Thousands of children’s homes could have potentially-deadly blind cords, RoSPA research shows

Thousands of children’s homes across the UK may have potentially-deadly blind cords – even in kids’ bedrooms – new research from RoSPA shows.

Of homes which have blinds in the child’s bedroom, one in three (33 per cent) were fitted more than five years ago, before new safety standards were introduced in an effort to prevent death and serious injury from cord accidents. In living rooms and hallways this figure rises to 38 per cent, and to 41 per cent in kitchens.

RoSPA is aware of 33 child deaths due to blind cords since 2001.

Worryingly, nearly two-thirds of blinds in children’s bedrooms have looped cords or chains, which pose the most severe strangulation risk. Nearly one in three homes (29 per cent) have no safety devices fitted on their blinds.

Liz Lumsden, community safety manager for RoSPA Scotland, said: “They may look harmless, but to a young child looped cords can be deadly if they get them caught around their neck.

“The new standards introduced in 2014 only apply to the manufacture and fitting of blind cords, meaning those fitted before that date are unlikely to be safe by design, or to have been supplied with safety devices.

“We urge all parents and grandparents, and anyone else who has children in their home regularly, to remove looped cords from their homes – particularly from their children’s bedrooms – and have new blinds fitted. If this is not possible there are cheap or free safety devices which can be fitted, such as cleats, which enable the blinds to be tied up.”

RoSPA’s blind cord safety tips:

• Install blinds that do not have a looped cord, particularly in a child’s bedroom
• Cords on blinds (and also curtains) that are elsewhere in the home should be kept short and out of reach of children – tie up the cords or use one of the many cleats, cord tidies, clips or ties that are available
• Do not place a child’s cot, bed, playpen or highchair near a window
• Do not hang toys or objects that could be a hazard on a cot or bed
• Do not hang drawstring bags where a small child could get their head through the loop of the drawstring
• RoSPA does not recommend that cords are cut, even as a short-term solution, because they could actually become more dangerous.

For more blind cord safety advice and resources, see www.rospa.com/blindcords