6 Children Strangled by Window Blinds in 2010 - Find out who is to blame.

Support the campaign for ZERO deaths caused by Window Blinds in 2011

By John Astley - Founder WindowBlindSafe.com

The sad fact is that 6 children died in 2010 between UK and Ireland - this is a 300% increase over previous years and something everyone associated with the industry should be ashamed of. This tragic and preventable loss of life must be stopped. 

But who is to blame and what should be done?

In the absence of legislation banning blinds with dangerous cords then self regulation by the industry seems the only way forward. But this has failed us so far and even if legislation were passed immediatley, it would be almost impossible to recall all of the estimated 250 million in our homes.

More worrying is the present state of the International Standards the industry is asked to follow. In a recent article published by trading standards, they highlight what is in the standard BS EN 13120:2009 (Internal Blinds – Performance Requirements Including Safety)

Clause 8.2 deals specifically with the risk of strangulation.

 

The requirements include:

 

• The attachment of a warning notice to the product and in the instructions for use. This notice shall include the following:

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  • WARNING
  • Young children can strangle in the loop of pull cords, chains and tapes, and cords that operate window coverings. They can also wrap cords around their necks.
  • To avoid strangulation and entanglement, keep cords out of the reach of young children.
  • Move beds, cots and furniture away from window covering cords.

  The word "WARNING" must be in upper case and at least 8mm high. The rest of the text shall be in no less than 3mm high letters.

   

• The provision within the product package of a device for keeping cords, chains, tape or similar out of reach of children or an appropriate safety device (with instructions for its proper installation and use) or include in the product design a mechanism that will achieve the same result. Common safety devices include cord safety tassels, cord or ball-chain tidies and cleats.

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• Where the design requires a looped operating mechanism, there shall be provided the means to limit the risk, either by incorporating this into the product design, or by supplying an appropriate safety device with the product.

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• Where practicable, operating cords, chains, tapes or similar should be kept as short as possible.

They go on:-

Remedial advice to customers should include the following:

 

• Keep furniture such as chairs, sofas, tables and shelves that children could climb on well away from windows in order to prevent children from climbing up and reaching curtains and blinds.

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• Make sure a child's cot, bed, highchair or playpen is kept well away from a window where he or she could reach the curtain or blind cord.

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• If possible, replace cords or chains with a curtain or blind wand.

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• Keep cords or chains as short as possible and secure them so they are out of the reach of children.

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• With looped cords or chains, if at all possible, cut the cord or chain to get rid of the loop. Attach a tassel to the end of each strand.

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• Eliminate dangling cords or chains. Tie up cords or chains or use one of the many cleats, cord tidies or clips that are available from blind retailers or hardware stores.

So this is what the Window Blind industry is asked to do and the standards they must meet and this is why 6 children died last year..

Can you imagine a bottle full of bleach or tablets having a warning sign hanging from it and instructions stating "must be kept out of children's reach without a child-resistant top"? Would this prevent a child from opening the cap and dying from poisoning.

Absolutely not and a safety standard governing the safety of bottle caps was created in 1997 and updated constantly since.

Why not apply the same safety standard to Window Blinds? - even though the risk maybe different the danger of death is identical. 

In my discussions with politicians, the industry and some of it's critics, it is unlikely to happen in 2011.

So here is my response and how WE CAN reach the goal of 

ZERO deaths caused by Window Blinds in 2011.

Firstly, ask every parent to conduct the Wrap-A-Round test. 

If a cord or chain can be wrapped around a hand, the blind and the room are unsafe for children.

Next, test all the safety devices mentioned by Trading Standards using the same WrapA-Round test.

If children can wrap a cord or chain around their hand when the device is fitted, it is unsafe.

Simple.

When we created WndowBlidSafe, we used this test to develop the stowing mechanism and the child-resistant locking system of a similar design to those used on bottles containing dangerous contents.

We have also created the Universal Window Blind Guideline for Parents - based on the successful packaging standard, it has all the recognised tests and is easily understood. But the vital element is the Wrap-A-Round test and this is what we should be telling parents about. 

The Window Blind Wrap-A-Round test must become a standard phrase in the English language during 2011 to achieve our goal and we look to editors, programme makers, producers, politicians, the industry, ROSPA etc to help us meet this Life changing target. 

Whatever happens as the result of Industry discussions or forthcoming legislation will happen but we will have halted a very worrying trend and saved 6 lives and countless near misses.

Posted via email from Are Window Blinds Safe?