Blind Cord Safety

[CocoCabban]

I have just discovered Mumsnet on the advice of a council employee who agrees with my cause but cannot help me. My son got a blind cord around his neck at nursery and suffered a nasty friction burn, it could have been so much worse and every day i thank my lucky stars. I am working on getting justice for my son, although as a single full time working mum to two it is challenging to find the time! Please share this link everywhere you can, 22 children have died as a result of blind cord strangulation since 1999 in the UK alone. We can make a difference and try to make sure no other parents have to suffer this loss, thank you.
www.rospa.com/news/releases/detail/default.aspx?id=1093

Good post CocoCabben.

We have a lot of blinds at home - a few months ago I got someone from the local curtain shop to come round and fit child safety catches to them all. It cost £150 but was well worth it. Your nursery should definitely have these fitted - am shocked that any childcare setting would not.

So sad about all these children. I am very glad your son is okay.

Thank you skrullandcrossbones, you're right safety is worth it whatever the cost... and it doesn't make sense that any childcare setting wouldn't have the highest level of safety throughout...

On a previous thread about this, someone suggested blind cord winders and shorteners. The cheaper ones are just a few quid.

We have old fashioned cleats screwed to our wooden window frames, and just wind the cords round those.

Sorry to hear about your son's injury, Coco - thank god it wasn't worse.

Hello Tianc. So sorry to hear about what happened to your son. How terrifying!

And yes, we do have plans to publish some child-safety content in the near future - and it will definitely include something about cord-blind safety.

We'll also get in touch with RoSPA and see if there's any useful/timely way we could work together on this.

Great, Thanks Helen. It seems such a great opportunity to use such a huge network to spread the word :-)

I know Tianc, I'm sure you can imagine the scenarios I have run through in my head ever since...

Well done MNHQ.

(It was coco's son, not mine. But on the previous thread I mentioned my poor darling DNephew, who died in a choking accident. Instructions on what to do in such instances much appreciated in the safety guide - there have been some threads on the matter and on baby first aid courses.)

Sorry, Coco

And sorry to hear about your nephew, Tianc

Tianc, I'm so sorry about your nephew. What a tragedy. I think a lot more could be done to alert parents and carers to take precautions. I'm glad the OP and MN are doing that.

A child died in the village I used to live in because of blind cords, it's definitely something people need to be made aware of.

Anything that raises awareness of the risk with blinds has to be good.

The thought of a nursery having such dangerous blinds is pretty scary!

I recently fitted safety whatsits (no idea what they are called) to the three blinds we have, they were only a couple of quid each form ebay. I ordered them whilst still reading an article where a child had died. They should come with every blind automatically.

Hi. This is my first post here and you're discussing a subject which as a parent of two young children (7, 4 yrs) I'm keen to promote awareness of where I can, especially after a friend of mine's child also put themselves in a situation which could have been far more serious. The guilt my friend carries, even though this was some time ago now and his daughter thankfully survived serious injury, is immeasurable.

I've recently written a post about the Blind Cord Child Safety Campaign www.makeitsafe.org.uk which is being run jointly by the BBSA and RoSPA (mentioned earlier in this thread). It contains some useful resources and the main video from the BBSA. If anyone has any useful ideas to promote awareness of the campaign - I'd welcome any further ideas.

It's a sad subject in many respects, but generating awareness around the topic is clearly important, and as a parent, I have a vested interest in promoting the relevant information and advice.

My post is here for those who might be interested:
www.intelligenthomestrust.org.uk/2012/child-safety-and-window-blind-cords-campaign/

Best wishes
Paul