Children Are Still Getting Caught and Strangled in Window Blinds—What Can Be Done?
You have likely heard news stories of young children getting strangled by window blinds cords over the past few decades. You would think that such a dangerous hazard with a product used inside the home would have been completely eliminated by now, but it still continues to occur with alarming frequency. The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CSPC) reports that almost every month another child in the United States dies from being strangled by a window cord. More than 300 children have died and another 300 or more have suffered injuries as severe as brain damage, and paralysis. In 2014, seven children died from strangulation on window blind cords.
The CPSC lists window blind cords as one of its top five hidden hazards in the home. There are videos online depicting toddlers and small children being hung and strangled on these window blind cords in their own homes. Why after so many decades of children losing their lives from such a dangerous, yet easily avoidable hazard?
What are the available solutions?
A story in the Washington Post talks about 30 years of pamphlets, public service announcements have been a failed attempt at trying to educate the public about the dangers window blind cords pose for small children. Window blind manufacturers need to change the way they make the products so that they are safe for children. Cordless blinds are available, and major retailers such as IKEA and Target no longer sell window blinds with cords. Home Depot, Lowe’s and Walmart have agreed to stop selling window blinds with cords by the end of 2018.
There are at least 7 parent consumer safety groups which have been lobbying the CPSC to impose stricter safety standards on the industry. The CPSC is not making any promises about if or when they will adopt new mandatory safety standards for window shades. For now the CPSC recommends that only cordless blinds be used in homes with young children. Parents with young children need to continue to be made aware of the hazards that window blind cords pose. For homes and apartments that already have window blinds with cords installed, the Window Covering Safety Council has information for parents on how to reduce the risk of strangulation on blind cords.
Corded window blinds are dangerous to small children. No parent wants to suffer the heart break of losing their child due to such a preventable accident. When a child has been injured or loses their life in such a senseless tragedy, a products liability attorney from Paulson & Nace will fight for justice on their behalf.
Matthew A. Nace focuses his practice in the areas of medical malpractice, personal injury, trucking litigation, wrongful death, and other negligence cases. Read more about Matthew A. Nace.