DIY Blinds is committed to child safety and would like to highlight to all our customers the risks associated with cord mechanisms on blinds & curtains.
Why are loose cords dangerous?
Children do not understand that cord/ chain wrapped around their neck can tighten and strangle them in just a few minutes if they sit down, roll around or climb down to the floor. In the past children have died when the loop went over their head or they got tangled in loose cords while:
- sleeping in a cot or bed where cords are hanging
- playing near cords, or
- standing on a chair, sofa or bed to look out a window.
How to keep your children safe?
1. Check your blind and curtain cords (Do this anywhere you are staying, including on holiday).
Check for loose or looped cords that your child can reach from the floor or by climbing on furniture.
Immediately tie cords out of reach and move away any furniture children might climb on to reach them.
2. Secure your cords out of reach.
Use tensioning devices such as ‘Cleats’ or ‘P-Clips’ provided with all new blinds purchased from DIYonlindblinds.
Use screws to fix each cleat or tensioning device in place that is out of reach of children.
Never secure these devices with materials that may fail when a load is placed on them, such as double sided tape.
Note: If you cannot fix your unsafe cords and chains out of reach yourself, get a reliable tradesperson to do it for you. Also if you are renting your home, seek help from your landlord or agent.
3. Choose safe blinds.
All blinds sold by DIY Blinds have the following safety features:
Comply with the national mandatory standard
Have warning labels to remind you of dangers to children
Provide a way to secure cords/chains so there are no loops or strands that children can reach (see P-Clip & CLEAT diagram below); or
Operate without exposed cords/chains.
4. Keep children away from all cords/chains.
Move anything a young child can sit in, stand or climb on (like cots, highchairs, beds, sofas, tables, chairs and bookshelves) away from cords/chains - even those tied around a cleat as your child may be able to untie them.
Do not let children play near cords/chains they can reach.
Never leave children alone in a room with cords/chains they can reach.