Industry experts advise consumers to switch their traditional window blinds with a cordless one to avoid risks of child strangulation and other potential hazards.
“Window blind cords are hidden hazards inside your home,” according to the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC). While these cords seem harmless, they can pose a potential safety threat, especially to children.
To avoid potential strangulation or other types of dangers, the ACCC urges consumers to check all of their window blinds for any accessible cords. When accessed by children and infants, these cords can become a strangulation hazard.
“Bare window blind cords are dangerous,” says ACCC Chairman Rod Sims. “Even when you use safety cleats or tie them as high as you can, your kids will still find a way to them. It will only take a minute for a child to die from being strangled by these cords.”
As Chairman Sims pointed out the dangers of corded window blinds Adelaide, he also stated the solution to this problem: switching to cordless. “Cordless window blinds are the safest option available,” he added. “It’s the best option for homes with children, childcare centres, or any other place where children and infants are present.”
In a survey from 2014, 2019, 46 recorded deaths among children and infants were related to strangulation from window blind cords. That means an average of 8 children (age 12 and below) each year die from strangulation from a window blind.
Parents and caregivers can also contribute towards preventing window cord strangulation among children. PR Newswire has compiled some excellent tips on how to enjoy the benefits of having window blinds Adelaide at home while preventing the potential hazards that it brings.
- Purchase and install cordless window blinds available at local and online retail stores. Make sure the product you purchase is described as cordless; otherwise, you’ll be wasting your money.
- If you’re unable to replace your existing window blinds with a cordless variant, the article recommends the following:
- Remove any dangling cords by making them as short as possible.
- Keep all window blind cords out of children’s reach.
- Make sure the cord stops are installed the right way. Adjust to limit the inner lift cord’s movement.
- Prevent children from going near corded blinds by moving their toys, cribs, and other essential to other rooms where window blind cords are not present.
- For other types of drapes, make sure to anchor continuous-loop cords to the floor.
- If you opt for a cordless variant, make sure that it’s motorized. Using a motorized cordless window blind will make sure that your windows are cord-free. At the same time, it also ensures a more convenient way of adjusting your window blind according to your preference.
The Australian Competition and Consumer Commission is a regulatory commission of the Australian Government. This competition regulation is under the Treasury and is tasked to protect the public from unreasonable risks of injury or death associated with the use of consumer products.
