Long Corded Blinds Will No Longer Be Sold After 50 Fatalities in Last 5 Years Among Kids
Childproofing a home goes further than some of us might think. Of course we remove or secure the obvious hazards to keep our children safe.
But one thing you may not have realized poses a threat may just be the most potentially dangerous thing in your home.
Corded blinds can be found in almost every home. I have them. You probably have them. But for young children, these types of window coverings can be deadly.
According to the Consumer Product Safety Commission, between 2012 and 2017 alone, there were 50 reported deaths among infants and children due to blind cord strangulation.
Another study conducted by Nationwide Children’s Hospital Center for Injury Research and Policy concluded that an average of 2 children per day were sent to the ER for cord blind injuries between 1990 and 2015.
Still, the coverings have continued to be used in homes across the country. But the Window Covering Manufacturers Association has been calling for change.
In a January 2018 statement, the WCMA said that as of Dec. 15, 2018, “a new window covering safety standard… will require a vast majority of window covering products sold in the United States and Canada to be cordless or have inaccessible or short cords.”
“The new safety standard is a direct result of ongoing industry innovation, technological advances and new product development,” executive director for WCMA, Ralph Vasami, said.
The statement concluded by noting the easiest way for consumers to recognize the safest blind products is to look for the “Best for Kids” certification label which has been placed on cordless options since 2015.
“After December 15, 2018, products that consumers can pick up in a retail store or order online as ready-made will not contain hazardous cords if the product is compliant with the ANSI/WCMA A100.1-2018 standard. Consumers should look for window coverings that comply with the new voluntary standard,” the CPSC said.
In the end, it is recommended that if you currently have corded blinds and young children in your home, the blinds be updated as soon as possible.
If the expense is not an option at the moment, however, the CPSC offers a list safety tips to ensure your little ones stay as safe as can be.
You might have a hard time finding corded blinds from now on. Here’s why https://t.co/xvInhLvW0f pic.twitter.com/gDzIrZ0llq
— USA TODAY Video (@usatodayvideo) December 15, 2018
The list includes suggestions for arranging “furniture and toys away from windows and window cords” and keeping cords “as short as possible.”
For the full list of tips, please visit the Window Covering Cords Information Center page.
Do you have corded blinds at home? What do you think of the new safety standard?
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