FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
September 30, 2004
Release # 04-228
CPSC Consumer Hotline: (800) 638-2772
CPSC Media Contact: Kim Dulic, (301) 504-7058 or Eric Criss, (301) 504-7800
Federal Government Warns of “Hidden Hazard” to Young Children
Old Window Coverings Pose Strangulation Risk
WASHINGTON, D.C. – October is Window Covering Safety Month and the U.S.
Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC), the Window Covering Safety
Council and independent retailers have joined forces to urge consumers
to repair or replace window coverings purchased before 2001.
Strangulations can occur when young children become entangled in the
inner or outer cord on the window covering.
“Most people don’t think about window coverings as something that
can harm their child,” said CPSC Chairman Hal Stratton. “We continue to
lose children in tragic incidents due to entanglement and strangulation
in older window covering cords.”
From January 1991 through August 2004, CPSC received reports of
about 180 strangulation deaths involving cords and chains on window
coverings. Most strangulation deaths involved the outer pull cords. At
least 20 of these deaths involved the inner cords which run through
horizontal blinds.
Outer-pull cord deaths typically involve children ranging in age
from 7-months to 6-years. Inner-cord deaths typically involve children
ranging in age from 9-months to 20-months who are placed in cribs or
playpens located within reach of window coverings. In all cases, the
children became inadvertently entangled and died from strangulation.
The window covering industry has produced redesigned products to
reduce cord hazards. These redesigns have reduced the opportunity to
create hazardous loops in the cords or chains. The redesigns also have
featured permanently attached tie-down anchors and built-in cord stops.
Although redesigned, newer window coverings and repaired, older
window coverings reduce the risk of strangulation – they have not fully
eliminated the hazard. Long, dangling window cords and chains still
pose a strangulation hazard for young children. Consumers should never
tie window blind cords or chains together because the knot creates a new
loop, in which a young child could become entangled.
During the month of October, CPSC increases its efforts to urge
consumers to carefully inspect the cords and chains of all of their
window coverings. Consumers also are encouraged to consider cordless
coverings and other alternative window coverings, which have been
recently introduced throughout the country by manufacturers. Consumers
with older window coverings are urged to repair or replace their window
coverings.
Consumers possessing window coverings purchased before 2001 can
obtain a free repair kit from the Window Covering Safety Council’s Web
site at www.windowcoverings.org or by calling (800) 506-4636.
Individuals also can visit www.cpsc.gov to learn more about window covering safety.
The following are window-covering safety tips offered by CPSC:
Move all cribs, beds, furniture and toys away from windows and window cords, preferably to another wall.
Keep all window cords out of the reach of children. Make sure that tasseled pull cords are short, and that continuous-loop cords are permanently anchored to the floor or wall.
To prevent inner-cord hazards, lock cords into position when lowering horizontal coverings or shades.
Repair window coverings, corded shades and draperies manufactured before 2001 with retrofit cord-repair devices, or replace them with today’s safer products.
Consider installing cordless window coverings in children’s bedrooms and play areas.