Recent national news coverage has shed light on the dangers that window blinds and shades pose to babies, toddlers and children. The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission estimates that an average of about one child each month has strangled on the cords of blinds and shades since the early 1980s. However, the government has failed to require manufacturers to design safer blinds and shades, relying instead on the industry to develop its own standards.

Even though many new window blinds have added safety features, we continue to see accidents from window blinds and cords.

Following are several window blind/shade safety tips for your use. We have also included solutions to the problem by linking to safety products that we have tested and recommend.

•	Use cordless window treatment whenever possible including cordless shades, shutters, vinyl roller shades, or curtains without ties.
•	Be especially vigilant to keep all cords away from cribs and beds.
•	Secure cords out of reach. We recommend the Blindwinder  or cord kleats (2 may be needed for extra long cords).
•	Parents can order free retrofit kits (cord stops, tassels and tie-down devices) for roman shades, roller shades, pleated shades, vertical blinds, miniblinds, and horizontal blinds with cords.

Please check your home for these cord hazards:

 

Multiple cord in a single tassel

Multiple cords enter a single tassel at the end of the pull cord, creating a loop, posing a strangulation hazard.

 

Two tassels

A 1994 regulation mandated that blinds be manufactured with two tassels.  However, separated tassels can become tangled or knotted and form a dangerous loop and strangulation hazard. Tassels themselves are a major choking hazard when pulled off the cord.

 

Roman shades

Roman shades look OK from the front but pose a hazard in the back.

 

If you like these tips, please pass them to your friends, clients and colleagues.

If you have questions about child proofing your Home or Business, or to schedule an appointment, please contact us at (757) 200-7233 or Info@ChildSafetyHouseCalls.com.

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About Child Safety House Calls
Child Safety House Calls is led by two emergency room pediatricians and specializes in evaluating and selling through their online child safety store childproofing and child safety products for window blinds and window shades, as well as child safety gates, childproof locks, childproof door locks, childproof gates, child proof door knobs, childproof latches, childproof drawers, childproof cabinets, baby gates, baby safety items, bathroom safety items, tub safety items and more. They provide information to parents nationwide on childproofing your home, child safety in the home, and the best childproof products. In Hampton Roads, Virginia, their team conducts child safety house calls to parents in Virginia Beach, Norfolk, Chesapeake, Suffolk, Hampton, Newport News, and Williamsburg.