Anyone who has children knows how talented they can be at finding things inside your home that you never thought of as dangerous beforehand. One of the more common—and more commonly overlooked—hazards present in all kinds of residential and commercial properties nationwide are the internal and external cords found in all types of window blinds and coverings.
Preventing window blind cord strangulation is something the United States Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) has placed an increasingly large focus on in recent years, especially as more and more options for cordless blinds have become available in major retail marketplaces. Jim Onder and the team at OnderLaw have been at the forefront of driving significant changes in window blind cord regulations.
However, while these products remain in existence, below are some things you can do as a homeowner or renter to reduce the risk of your young children suffering serious or potentially fatal injuries from window blind cord entanglement.
According to the CPSC, an average of eight children under five years old die every year because they get blind cords, draperies, or other parts of window coverings tangled around their necks. Hundreds of these types of accidents have occurred nationwide from 2009 to 2021. The vast majority of these accidents involve the operating cords of blinds—which may dangle freely and separately from the blinds themselves—with a small portion involving inner cords that string together the slats of Venetian blinds and similar models of blinds.
With this in mind, adjusting the operating cords of window blinds so they are as short and as high above ground level as possible can be key to preventing strangulation accidents, as can tying up longer cords so that young children can’t reach them.
Many models of blinds also have cord stops designed to prevent inner cords from being pulled too far out from the slats they’re threaded through. Ensuring these are properly installed and functioning can also reduce the risk of strangulation.
Last but not least, it may be a good idea to move all furniture—especially fixtures meant for kids like toys and cribs—away from windows altogether, ideally to the opposite wall.
While all the measures mentioned above can greatly reduce the risk of window blind cord strangulation, the only surefire way to prevent this kind of accident entirely is by removing corded blinds altogether and replacing them with newer cordless models. Corded blinds are especially common in older homes built or last updated before the year 2000, so removal and replacement should be an especially high priority for anyone living in this kind of building.
When a dangerously designed window blind cord results in your child getting hurt or killed through a strangulation accident, it may be possible to take legal action against the company that designed, manufactured, or sold those blinds. A compassionate attorney at OnderLaw can discuss this with you in further detail during a free, private consultation. Our team is here for you and your family during this difficult time.
Window blind cord accidents are not the most common type of accident to affect children in America, but they are still deceptively deadly and occur far too often. Fortunately, there’s a lot you can do in the short term to minimize your family’s chances of being harmed in this way.
Preventing window blind cord strangulation is something every family with young children should be proactive about. If your child has already been hurt through this type of accident, OnderLaw is here to help you. We’re not just on your side; we’re by your side. Call today.
