Safety tips for child proofing window blinds 
(23/06/2009)
Apollo Blinds is using National Child Safety Week to kick start a new campaign to encourage child safety in relation to the operating cords on window blinds.
It comes on the back of new research that found on average only one in eight households where small children either reside or visit on a regular basis have safety devices on blind cords and chains. The report estimates that every year a child loses their life as a result of looped blind cords and there are up to 20 near misses. Three children have died in the past 18 months.
Apollo Blinds’ campaign launches at the start of Child Safety Week, 22nd June 2009. It will involve Apollo’s 75 stores throughout the UK and Ireland who will be helping to heighten awareness about the potential strangulation hazard associated with blind hanging cords.
Gary Chambers, general manager at Apollo Blinds, explained: “All of our made-to-measure blinds come with a safety warning sign attached to them to alert customers to the potential dangers of looped cords, but our research has highlighted more must be done to encourage parents to keep their home safe. One of the biggest problems, that was highlighted in the recent publication of the Sherriff’s report into the circumstances surrounding the tragic death of a child in Scotland last year, is the public’s lack of understanding of the potential risks with young children and blind cords.
“So we’re working with our team of Apollo consultants at grass roots level to ensure all customers are aware of the ease and importance of fitting blinds without cords or using additional safety products, which in some cases can cost less than a standard fitting.”
EuroSafe, the European Association for Injury Prevention and Safety Promotion, said: “Window blinds/drapery cords are a strangulation hazard. Children become entangled in the pull cords or in the inner cords that are used to raise the slats of blinds. These entrapments can occur when a young child pulls on an inner cord and it forms a loop that a child can hang in." Fatality tends to occur when a child has fallen and got caught up in the loop.
Advice on RoSPA's website (The Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents) calls for parents to prevent injury by making blinds safe. "Pull cords on curtains and blinds should be kept short and kept out of reach," they say. It also says that most accidents in the home are preventable through increased awareness, improvements in the home environment and greater product safety.
Apollo’s Gary Chambers added: “So that’s what we’re aiming for. We’re leading the industry with this – heightening awareness and making sure all parents know that there are a wide range of devices and operating methods to improve the safety of blinds and ensuring Apollo Blinds is compliant with new Euro norm standards (EN13120).”
Apollo Blinds’ Top Five Simple Safety Tips For Child Proofing Window Blinds, include:
1. Choose blinds without cords
Apollo’s Easy Glide system for vertical blinds removes the risk of strangulation as it has no chain at all. Vertical blinds simply pull across and open and close all with the wand. What’s even better that this product is 10% cheaper than standard vertical blind fittings. Apollo’s slider wand also has no cords at all and uses a pump action to open and close the blind, as well as tilt the slats. This comes in at £25.00 but is extremely neat and safe.
Use pleated or Duette blinds without a cord, which simply use push and pull handles to raise and lower it. Prices start at £70.08 for a 400mm x 600mm blind.
2. Tie it up
The Uni Wand is ideal for venetian blinds. The cords pass through the wand that’s used for tilting the slats, but hook on to the base of the wand when the blind is raised so they’re not left dangling - which again keeps hazardous cords away from small inquisitive hands and heads. The Uni-Wand is available from Apollo for £5.00 per blind.
3. Guard it
Control-Guard Cord Safety Device is a low cost solution for increased child safety. This simple unit, suitable for roller, roman and vertical blinds, houses the operating chains and cords, and secures against the wall. Control-Guard costs just £10.00 per blind and is fitted on to a new blind.
4. Wind it up
As a retro fit option, use a Blind Cord Shortener device available from baby equipment suppliers such as the The Baby Catalogue for just £2.50. This winds the cord up and keeps it out of reach.
5. Cut the Cord
Whatever you do, don’t have a loop - simply Cut Window Blind Cords and use Safety Tassels to help prevent children from strangling in blind cord loops.
Apollo Blinds has also produced a new Child Safety brochure that focuses on how to manage the risks and safety features available. Apollo’s experienced staff can offer more advice on safety tips and the best types of operation devices to fit to blinds, particularly if being fitted to children’s bedrooms on in homes where there are young children.
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