Raising awareness in memory off my little girl

[BLKS7]

In 2019 my life was turned upside down, Everyone tells us about the common dangers etc but how much do we actually no?

I'm a mum to 3 beautiful people but on a normal day in 2019 I'd put my two year old little girl for an afternoon nap to bed. When I'd gone up to get her my life came crashing down.

My beautiful little girl was caught on a blind cord 💔💔💔😭😭😭

I'm now 12 months past loosing her and nothing still makes sense. We was in a private rented house at the time the law for blinds had changed in 2014 but many people I still speak too to raise awareness are still unsure off the dangers off blind cords .

Please please check your blind cords are secured and under the new Regulations!! Please don't go through the heart break me and my family are going through.

Mummy's little angel Macy we love and miss you more then any words can describe. Shine bright baby girl untill we meet again 💔💕😭

Omg op. How awful. I have a two year old and I'm going to sort the blinds out today after reading this. I wish you strength moving forwards.

I'm so sorry for your loss I heard of a story like yours and found it so upsetting I took all my blinds down while I was pregnant. Thank you for being so brave to warn us all.

I’m so sorry for your loss and for raising this. We have just moved into our new home and have the old style blinds in each room. My little one is only 4 months but this has highlighted how important this is to include in my baby proofing list. Thank you.

Thank you ❤️❤️❤️

this could happen to any child a number off ages have been hurt or lost there life's 💔💔💔 also animals can become tangled on cords too!!

Please please ensure blind cords are secured or anyone with young children

Thank you everyone I appreciate your comments xxxx

Im so sorry for your loss of Macy, it is heartbreaking thanks to your post, I went straightaway and double checked there was nothing unsafe near my baby’s cot. I will definitely keep it far from any dangerous cords. Learning of a story like this, even if terrible to hear about such a tragedy, is a good reminder to be mindful about the risks in our own homes to the little people.

@Jmommy there's dangers with blinds can happen anywhere in the house in such a short space off time after speaking to other parents who have been threw the same tragedy thank you for checking your blinds 💕💕💕

So sorry for your loss @BLKS7, you are amazing for thinking of others as a result of losing Macy. In a professional capacity I have been involved in the unsuccessful resuscitation attempts of two children that this happened to. This made me very aware of the danger as a parent but I would otherwise probably not have considered this. All of the blinds in my house have these on since having children and I would urge other parents to consider using something similar

Dreambaby Blind Cord Wind-ups (Pack of 2, White) https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B0032IC7TO/ref=cmswwrcppapiii_4eUqEbPF45NC7

I'm so sorry for your loss, I can't imagine how you must be feeling.

@HippyChickMama it seems to be such a "common" incident yet not more awareness in regards to this accident happening frequently, I'm hooping to raise the awareness as much as possible to try prevent anymore but also fighting with health professionals too be able to warn parents about this incident. Which not many health visitors etc are able to tell people about. My heart breaks for you going through this situation from a professional point off view I'm aware off how much distress staff was in regards to Macy your such a brave person xxxx

@BLKS7 Thank you but I'm not brave, just doing my job. The worst part of any job like that is seeing the utter heartbreak that the parents endure. There is information on blind cords in the red book that you are given when your baby is born but who has time to read the read book when you have small children? (And I say that having gone on to become a HV). It might be worth contacting your local HVs to ask whether they give specific warnings about blind cords and if it's something you feel you could do you may even be able to arrange to speak to parents at antenatal/baby/toddler groups?

@HippyChickMama untill the passing off Macy my local sure start centre and children's school has these blinds which parents go to a sure start centre see the blinds there not going to think twice off the dangers,

I'm slowly but surely getting through to people even been in contact with a local housing minister because for landlords regarding blinds there's no information on blinds which not many people are aware off the new legislation from 2014. I'm hoping in time I can stand and speak to parents and I won't give up till I achieve this. I've had excellent support from a local blind company who have emailed schools across the borough and offered free safety clips for blinds! It's just a case off getting the message out there I've done Chanel 5 interviews and radio interviews which reached a lot of people I just need to keep going!! Knowing some parents off various sites have realised there blinds are dangerous and acted upon this makes the raising the awareness all the more for me xxxx

i would cut them all, so that there is two open ends, rather than a loop.
there are so many hazards around for young children, ligatures, etc.

Like hippychickmama I have been involved in several unsuccessful resuscitation attempts for accidental strangulations. My friends outside of work think I'm crazy as I hate anything in kids bedrooms other than their beds. I especially hate blind cords and people who attach fairy lights around the top of beds and bunk beds.

I'm so sorry for your loss

I remember reading the news article on your little girl last year . She is so so beautiful . Thank you for raising awareness , it’s not something I would’ve even thought of before reading about Macy . I’m so sorry for your loss, it’s tragic but her legacy will save lives x x

I’m so sorry for your loss.

Thank you for posting. You have reminded me to secure my blind cords. I’ve done 2 and will do the rest tonight.

What a horrendous thing to happen. I'm so sorry.

Is there a petition running to strengthen the law that I could sign (along with I'd assume, a lot of other mumsnetters)?

I think there are a lot of potential hazards in domestic settings for children.
there used to be a subject taught in secondary schools called parentcraft, or mothercraft, and it covered all these basics of how to keep a baby safe, feeding, bathing, handling, hazard awareness etc.
also when visiting there can be unconsidered hazards, eg crush injuries from hiding under granny's riser-recliner chair, ponds, drugs, chemicals. I have advised disabled people to ensure that they do let children regard recliner chairs as toys to be played with. it had never occurred to them, and they are well experienced in raising children.
most accidents happen in the home.

so sorry for your loss OP.

@BLKS7 you're doing a wonderful thing and honouring Macy's memory too 
@alexdgr8 cutting the ends isn't enough, even without a loop the string can become wrapped around a child's neck. The safest thing is to tie them up totally out of reach or even better, enclose them in a safety device

do NOT let children regard them as toys, obviously, re recliner chairs.

@Ulvie I had one set up last year unfortunately it didn't reach enough signatures 😩😩 there have been a lot more professionals trying to get things changed since xxx

Thank you to everyone's comments they mean a lot 💕💕💕 xxxx

If anyone is unsure in regards to blind cord safety please check out this page:

www.rospa.com/Campaigns-Fundraising/Current/Blind-cord

Xxxx

@Nursing83 there is so many potential dangers with anything in the house hold Im so paranoid the more "research" I look into now it can be anything shower cords, dressing gown cords, long string light switches there are so many dangers!! Most people won't see the real risk unless there in a profession like you or they've experience something traumatic them selfs xxxxx

This is heartbreaking. Can't imagine how traumatising that must have been for you when your world came crashing down. I think you are amazing spreading awareness to help save other children. It is something I wasn't aware could happen and I will be checking the bedroom my son stays in at his grandma's as they have blinds with cords. RIP little angel

BLKS7 I'm so sorry to hear of what happened to your beautiful wee girl Macy.

I believe all the cords in our house are safe, will snap if weight is put on them or held attached to the wall.

However you have prompted me to check my parents house. Which probably pre-dates safety measures.

You mention dressing gown cords. I didn't think they still sold dressing gowns with them for kids. My DH lost a friend in school to a dressing gown cord.