Keep small children away from blind cords

Parents and carers are being urged to keep children away from blind cords. The recent death of a young child has highlighted the fact that millions of homes across the UK are fitted with blinds with looped cords.

At least 35 young children across the UK have died because of looped cords on blinds since 2001 – that’s one or two children each year – and there will be many more near misses.

Since 2014, new blinds with looped cords must have child safety devices installed at the point of manufacture or sold with the blind.

However, blinds installed earlier may not have these features and millions of households could be affected. Our advice will help you make your home safer for your children and young visitors.

A young mother of a boy who died after getting caught in a blind cord has issued a stark warning to other parents.

"It's something you think will never happen to you," she explained. "It's something you read in the news or magazines.

"You might not see it as danger but you need to make sure you tie them away from your children. It's not mandatory for them to be checked but it should be."

Changes to standards for blinds in 2014 have led to improved product safety.

Fit a tidy, tensioner or a cleat: tidies and tensioners should be firmly fixed to an adjoining surface so that the cord or chain are permanently held tight.

Cleats should be positioned out of children’s reach on an adjacent surface, at least 1.5 metres from the floor.

Cords should be fastened in a figure of eight after every use of the blind, making sure all the spare cord is secured on the cleat.

Move furniture away from windows. Children love to climb, so keep furniture clear of window blinds. This includes cots, beds, highchairs and playpens.

For more information and advice, go to:

Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents

Child Accident Prevention Trust

Make it Safe