The danger of corded window blinds in Denver homes, and how plantation shutters are a safer alternative
Not enough Denver homeowners are actually aware of the danger window blind cords present to young children and pets.
Window blind cords do pose a direct hazard and removing these hazards from the home and replacing them with a non-corded window treatment should be on everyone’s to-do list.
Window-blind cords have caused accidents and deaths in children ranging from infancy to elementary age. Statistics show at least one child per month dies due to window-blind-cord strangulation.
Unfortunately, there are millions upon millions of corded window blinds installed in homes in America today, and every time we replace one of these blind treatments with a plantation shutter we know we are increasing the safety level of that home.
“The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) has identified window coverings with cords as one of the top five hidden hazards in the home. About once a month a child between 7 months and 10 years old dies from window cord strangulation and another child suffers a near strangulation. “
—-U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission
There are cases reported every year on the hazards of strangulation by cords or strings involving children with many types of window coverings. Any time a window-blind cord features a cord or tassels that dangle, there is a possibility that over time, they will intertwine or twist, forming a loop.
A child or pet may put their head through the intertwined loop and choke or worse be strangled to death. Many people are not aware of the dangers of these cords but once they realize how potentially fatal they can be they begin looking for alternatives. The safest thing to do is remove them and to select cordless window coverings.
“Strangulation deaths and injuries can occur anywhere in the house where a window covering with a cord is installed. Children can wrap window covering cords around their necks or can pull cords that are not clearly visible but are accessible and become entangled in the loops. These incidents happen quickly and silently.”
—-U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission
Andrea Sutton, a mother in Firestone Colorado, according to an interview by NPR radio lost her 3-year-old son due to a window blind cord accident. “The blinds had only a single cord below the wooden knob, and the cord was tied up — both precautions the industry had recommended to reduce risk of strangulation.”
She found her child strangled in the cord, called 911 and did CPR until the paramedics arrived but the child did not survive. “The coroner said Daniel probably wanted to look out the window, and Sutton said he may have pushed his small car-shaped toddler bed slightly closer to the window to reach.”
“To prevent tragic child strangulations, CPSC recommends the use of cordless window coverings in all homes where children live or visit.“
—-U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission
When choosing window coverings, anything with cords, tassels, joiners or cleats have been linked to strangulation accidents.
Because interior plantation shutters don’t have any strings or cords, they can’t get tangled up or come loose, and are a safer window covering choice. Shutters use strong magnets or snap closures, no cords, no problem, and one less thing to worry about.
“The CPSC has long recommended only cordless window coverings in any place children might live or visit and have recalled more than 5 million window products, including Roman shades, roller, and roll-up blinds, vertical and horizontal blinds.”
When childproofing homeowners are aware of childproofing drawers, cabinets and electrical outlets, but blinds should be a top concern also.
“Corded blinds are dangerous to young children and pets. In a study conducted they found that over 17,000 children under 6 years old went to the emergency room with corded blinds-related injuries. “
—-U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission
Pets love to play with the dandling cords, especially puppies and cats. They are attracted to the dangling end of a blind cord, but they can get caught in the loops of pull-cords, then they panic and at worst, a cat can be strangled.
Plantation shutters have options to keep window sills open and inviting to pets while avoiding having any dangerous cords dangling and enticing pets.
To read more :
window-blind-cords-still-pose-a-deadly-risk-to-children
https://www.cpsc.gov/Safety-Education/Safety-Education-Centers/Window-Covering
https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/nation-now/2017/12/11/injuries-and-death-window-blind-cords-send-two-kids-emergency-department-each-day/939705001/
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