Blind and Curtain Cord Safety for protecting children

Robert Anderson from Curtain Clean (The Curtain Store)

Take these four simple steps to ensure that blind and curtain cords/chains are out of reach of children, particularly from children under six.

1. Check your blind and curtain cords
• Check for loose or looped cords that your child can reach from the floor or by climbing on furniture.
• Immediately tie cords out of reach and move away any furniture children might climb on to reach them.

• Do this anywhere you are staying, including on holiday.

2. Secure your cords out of reach
• Buy cleats or tensioning devices for securing cords from a hardware store or curtain and blind shop.
• Use screws to fix each cleat or tensioning device in a place that is out of reach of children.

• Never secure these devices with materials that may fail when a load is placed on them, such as double-sided tape or glue.
• If you cannot fix your unsafe cords and chains out of reach yourself, get a reliable tradesperson to do it for you. If you are renting your home, seek help from your landlord or agent.

3. Choose safe blinds and curtains. Buy new curtains and blinds which:
• comply with the national mandatory standard
• have warning labels to remind you of dangers to children
• provide a way to secure cords/chains so there are no loops or strands that children can reach, or

• operate without exposed cords/chains.

4. Keep children away from all cords/chains
• Move anything a young child can sit in, stand or climb on (like cots, highchairs, beds, sofas, tables, chairs and bookshelves) away from cords/ chains—even those tied around a cleat, as your child may be able to untie them.
• Do not let children play near cords/chains they can reach.
• Never leave children alone in a room with cords/chains they can reach.