Tragically, each year toddlers between the ages of 16 and 36 months old are killed by strangulation accidents involving cords from draperies and blinds. Research shows that most accidents happen in the bedroom and more than half involve toddlers at the age of 23 months.
According to PreventionTown, although toddlers are mobile, their heads are still proportionately heavy in contrast to their bodies and their muscular control is not fully developed, making it difficult for them to extricate themselves should they become entangled. Complicating matters even more is the fact that their windpipes are also still developing and not yet rigid like those of older children and adults, meaning they suffocate more quickly.
As is often the case with drownings, strangulation accidents often happen very quickly and quietly, and frequently when a parent or caregiver is close by. To reduce the risks of cord accidents, all cords should be shortened and kept out of the reach of children (and pets as well). In fact, the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) identifies corded window coverings as one of the top five hidden hazards in the home and recommends the use of cordless window coverings in all homes with small children.
October is Window Covering Safety Month, an awareness campaign sponsored by WCSC ( the Window Covering Safety Council ) and CPSC, (the Consumer Product Safety Commission), and is a perfect time to eliminate the threat altogether by replacing corded blinds and draperies with safer options such as:
And remember, just because most cord accidents happen in the bedroom doesn’t mean they can’t or don’t happen in other rooms. Toddlers are tireless explorers who like to climb so be wary of things like window seats with corded blinds and choose a cordless treatment instead, like this pretty patterned one. In addition, the WCSC recommends the following safety precautions:
As with all hazards, prevention is the best strategy, and parents who take the time to inspect their windows and make them safe for their children will have one less thing to worry about.
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