Safety - blind and curtain cords

safe; safety; blinds; curtain; cords; strangulation; hang; strangle;

 

Blind and curtain cords pose a serious risk for babies and young children – particularly for children under 6 years old.

• Children can place their head in the loop created by a blind cord, or get tangled in long cords, when playing near cords or sleeping in a cot where cords are hanging. If children then try to sit or if they fall down they can strangle themsleves.
• The cord or chain loop used to open and close vertical blinds can also strangle children.

Since the early 1990s at least 15 children in Australia have been accidentally strangled by blind or curtain cords.

For more information about blind and curtain cord safety have a look at the pamphlet developed by the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC) 'Blind and curtain cords'.

Steps to reduce the risk

• Make sure that your child's cot, bed, highchair or playpen are not placed near a window where he can reach the curtain or blind cord. Your child may become tangled in the cord while playing or sleeping.
• Young children love to climb. Do not put sofas, chairs, tables, shelves or bookcases near windows with blinds or curtains which have cords.
• Keep cords as short as possible and secure them so that they are out of reach of children.
• If you have vertical blinds, install a cord tensioning device which can be bought from a curtain or hardware shop and screwed to the wall or window frame.
• If you need to have a long cord, wrap the cord around a cleat attached to the wall near to the top of the curtain or blind.
  • Buy cleats or tensioning devices from a hardware store or curtain and blind store. The ACCC pamphlet 'Blind and curtain cords' shows safety devices.

It does not matter which room has a blind or curtain with a cord, children can move fast and can climb on furniture in any room.

The information on this site should not be used as an alternative to professional care. If you have a particular problem, see a doctor, or ring the Parent Helpline on 1300 364 100 (local call cost from anywhere in South Australia).

This topic may use 'he' and 'she' in turn - please change to suit your
child's sex.