Child Safety Information

Curtains and Blinds may not be the first thing that comes to mind with home safety, but recent media reports in Australia have made us aware, they could well be...

Low hanging blinds and curtain cords pose a serious risk of strangling infants and small children. They can become entangled in these cords while playing.

Even with raised window coverings, small children can climb onto furniture, beds, cots or window sills to access the cords. A child can put their head in the looped cords, which can be tangled around their neck and quickly cause choking, suffocation or strangulation.

Even infants sleeping in a cot or bed where cords are hanging are also at risk.

In a report by the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission, at least 11 children have died in Australia between 2001 and 2008 after being caught in blind cords. Nine of these were children under three years of age.

In the US, a child aged between seven months and 10 years dies each month after being strangled on curtain or blind cords.

Each year many more have come close to strangulation but were luckily saved just in time.

In 2010, the Australian government initiated a mandatory safety standards for blinds. Manufacturers are required to include a warning label about cords on the packaging and attached to the cord itself.

Existing blinds made prior to new safety laws will need to be updated or replaced.

We can't stop “kids from being kids” but we can make sure that we eliminate any risk that cords from curtains and blinds potentially have to them.

Parents and caregivers should pay close attention to window and cord safety, and children and pets accidentally strangling in the looped cords.

This also goes for your beloved pets as they can just as easily be tangled up in the cords, when playing near the windows.

Photo credit: Ryan Melaugh via Flickr.com

Here are some steps to protect your children from blinds and curtain cords.

Because cord safety features are now mandatory on blinds, we believe you may feel more confident if you replace your old-style blinds and curtains and update to the new child-safe products, giving you peace of mind.

Ensure that blinds and curtain cords or chains in your home are out of reach of children, particularly children under six years of age.

Check your blind and curtain cords

Do this anywhere you are staying, including on holiday.

Immediately tie cords up out of reach and move away any furniture children might climb on to reach them.

Secure loose cords out of reach.

Buy cleats or tensioning devices from a hardware store or from Blindsonline.com.au.

Use at least two screws to fix each cleat or tensioning device in a place that is out of reach of children.

Never secure these devices with materials that fail when a load is placed on them, such as double sided tape or glue.

Looped Chain or Cord Control

Lets you easily operate the blind by rotating the chain or cord to raise & lower the blind. Adds child proof safety and gives an uncluttered look

Cordless lift system replaces the need for dangerous lift cords, with the easy operation of lightly pulling the handle to operate.

Safety wand control option eliminates dangling cords, making your blinds less hazardous.

Choose option of motorisation will make your blinds a safer window treatment.

It is estimated that thousands of consumers have not replaced their existing old blinds or corded window furnishings with products now available, please don’t let your household be one of them.

For your own peace of mind and your family’s safety, eliminate the potential risk that cords from curtains and blinds may have.

A friendly reminder from

Blindsonline.com.au

Your family’s safety is our highest priority.

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