Window blind cords and young children

Children have strangled on the cords of blinds, shades, draperies and other window coverings. It can happen in moments, even with an adult nearby, and it's often silent, so a caregiver in the next room may not notice. A child can wrap a cord around their neck, or pull on a cord that's hard to see but within reach and get caught in the loop.

Cordless window coverings are the only way to remove the hazard. Shortening cords, setting cord stops and anchoring loops lower the risk from corded ones without removing it. October is Window Covering Safety Month.

Around the windows

• Move cribs, beds, furniture and toys away from windows and their cordsAnother wall is best.
• Look for cords a child can reach but you can't easily see

The pull cords

• Make every pull cord as short as you canNothing should dangle where a child can reach it.
• Check the cord stops on each pull cordThese small donut-shaped stops limit how far the inner lift cords can move. With the blind fully lowered, they should sit 1 to 2 inches below the head rail.
• Get a free cord stop kit if a blind has noneThe Window Covering Safety Council sends one free at 800-506-4636. Its kits don't fix the dangling pull cord on many common blinds.

Looped cords and older blinds

• Anchor continuous-loop cords to the floor or wallThese loops and bead chains run draperies and some blinds. Use a hold-down fastener suited to the surface, with the cord pulled taut but still working.
• Get a free hold-down kit if a loop has noneThe same council sends these too.
• Check the age of the blindsMost blinds sold before November 2000 have inner cords that raise the slats. A child can pull them out into a loop large enough to catch their neck.