Danger! Children Can Strangle On Blind And Curtain Cords
Pamphlet
2005
ISBN: H46-2/05-413
Cat No.: 0-662-68923-2
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Keep the Cords High and Out of Reach!!
Cords from blinds and curtains can be dangerous to babies and
young children.
More than 20 deaths from children strangling on
cords from blinds and curtains have been reported to Health Canada
since 1989. Most of these children were under the age of 3.
The cords from blinds and curtains present 2 main strangulation
hazards:
- cords forming a loop in which a child can get caught
- long cords being wrapped around a child's neck
Whether blinds or curtains are new or old, do not leave cords
hanging.
Keep the cords high and out of the reach of children.
- Cut the cords short when blinds are fully down or when curtains
are fully closed.
- Whether the blind is up or down, make sure children cannot
reach the cords. Tie them out of reach.
- Never put a crib, bed, high chair or playpen near a window
or a patio door where a child can reach the blind or curtain
cord and strangle.
- Do not put sofas, chairs, tables, shelves or bookcases near
windows, this will prevent children from climbing up to reach
the blind or curtain cord.
|
Remove the loop in the cord
by cutting the cord in half. Then, put plastic tassels or a
break-away device at the end of the cords. |
| For vertical blinds install
tie-downs. You can buy these devices at hardware or department
stores. When installing tie-downs, follow the manufacturer's
instructions that come with the product. Make sure that the
tie-down device is securely attached to the wall beside the
window. |
|
|
Wrap the cord around a cleat
or 2 nails or screws that you have attached to the wall near
the top of the blinds or curtains, high and out of the reach
of children. |
| Use a clip, clothes pin,
or a big twist tie to keep the cord high and out of the reach
of children. |
|
For more information contact Product Safety, Health Canada,
at:
Vancouver, British Columbia |
(604) 666-5003 |
Edmonton, Alberta |
(780) 495-2626 |
Calgary, Alberta |
(403) 292-4677 |
Saskatoon, Saskatchewan |
(306) 975-4502 |
Winnipeg, Manitoba |
(204) 983-5490 |
Hamilton, Ontario |
(905) 572-2845 |
Toronto, Ontario |
(416) 973-4705 |
| Ottawa, Ontario |
(613) 952-1014 |
Montréal, Québec |
(514) 283-5488 |
Longueuil, Québec |
(450) 646-1353 |
Québec City, Québec |
(418) 648-4327 |
Moncton, New Brunswick |
(506) 851-6638 |
Halifax, Nova Scotia |
(902) 426-8300 |
St. John's, Newfoundland |
(709) 772-4050 |
www.healthcanada.gc.ca/blindcords
|
