The Safety Risks of Blind Cords - What You Need To Know as a Parent

Image courtesy of Suat Eman / FreeDigitalPhotos.net

I will never forget the first time I read a sad sad story about a little four-year-old girl who had lost her life when she accidentally hung herself on the cord of the blinds on her bedroom window.  The very next day I arranged for Lara's blackout roller blind to be fastened to the wall and when I moved house I bought cord-less blinds for her bedroom window.

Dangling cords can be a temptation to toddlers or an accident waiting to happen even for older children. According to a recent survey by Apollo Blinds, even though most parents are now aware that children can strangle themselves on looped blind cords in the home only a third of us have actually taken the steps to fit safety clips or make sure blinds are safe, even those fitted in children’s rooms.

Did you know it can take as little as five minutes to make window blinds safe? You just need a drill and simple safety devices such as the hooks pictured below so that you can keep looped cords away from tiny hands.

Or even better, if you’re decorating then consider made-to-measure window blinds Apollo Blinds who fit FREE child safety devices as standard on all of its blinds – from roller and romans to vertical and venetian binds.

Apollo blinds have put together a set of step-by-step instructions of how to make your existing blinds child-safe quickly and easily.

1. Do an audit in your home – are any looped window blind cords dangling untethered? Even if they’re high up, they need to be tied back – children often climb!
2. If you’re unsure, call your local Apollo store for help and advice or even a free audit. Visit www.apollo-blinds.co.uk
3. Select the best type of safety device for your blinds – cord cleats can be used for romans and venetian cords, while P clips are great for vertical chains
4. Place the cleats or clips where they can secure the cords. Mark the screw holes and drill holes. Insert raw plugs into the holes then simply screw the hooks or cleats to the wall.
5. Wrap excess cord around the cleat hook or secure the chain/cord into the clip.

And their top tip??? Well Apollo Blinds recommend a bit of creativity this autumn to keep little hands busy and away from the blinds - how about a bit of crafty fun from Red Ted Art's book - Cute and Easy Crafts for Kids.

 

These two clips are both incredibly cheap ways of making blinds safe, but there are lots of other techniques and gadgets available and cord-alternatives. Apollo blinds also sell these nifty motorised blinds that are operated with a remote control and don’t need cords at all - the ultimate in household tech!