SINCE 2005, at least five children have died in Ireland as a result of accidents from window blinds with loop cords or chains.

Now the National Consumer Agency has launched a safety campaign on the topic, stating that one in three parents of preschool children has not taken steps to make their window blinds or curtains safe.

The campaign is to alert parents of preschool children to the potential dangers of loose cords and chains from window blind and curtains.

Looped cord or chains

Online research, carried out by Empathy Research on behalf of the NCA, revealed:

• Almost two thirds (63 per cent) of parents of preschool children have blinds with looped cord or chains in their home
• 22 per cent said they had curtains with looped cord or chains.
• Of those parents who have  window blinds or curtains with looped cords or chains, one third have not taken steps to make them safe
• Almost a quarter (23 per cent) of those parents with blinds/curtains stated they don’t know how to make them safe

John Shine, Director of Commercial Practices and Product Safety said that the research shows that most parents are very diligent about childproofing their home by installing stair gates, child locks and plug covers.

However, many are unaware of the hidden dangers posed by loose cords and chains on window blinds and curtains. The aim of our campaign is to raise awareness of these dangers and educate parents on the steps they can take to make their windows safe and prevent another tragedy.

The NCA is running its window blind safety awareness campaign across national, urban and local radio stations for three weeks this month. There will also be online activity running across parenting sites and Facebook to encourage parents to watch the video and take action.

A video on NCA.ie encourages parents to take practical steps to avoid the dangers and to check their windows for exposed or dangling cords or chains that can pose a strangulation hazard to young children, and to install a safety device or replace the blinds with a safer option.

(NCAIreland/YouTube)

Shine said that window blind safety needs to be a key consideration for parents when they are childproofing their home.

Taking a few simple precautions, such as fitting an inexpensive safety device to window blind cords, could save a life. Never put a cot, bed, high chair or playpen within a child’s reach of a window.

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