Victoria
lost a two year old toddler in 2009 year after she became entangled
in a window blind cord and it’s a tragedy Brett believes is
absolutely avoidable.
“Awareness
is the key to saving young lives.
“When
families renovate or move home, blind cord safety can be easily
forgotten in the chaos of packing and unpacking, but a tragic
scenario with a child’s life is 100 per cent avoidable.
“We
have legislation now that helps, with hefty fines and court action
for failure to comply but blind providers need to install the right
equipment and parents must ensure the cords are always safely
stored,” he said.
The
Blind Factory fit all blind and curtain cords with a safety device
that removes any slack from the cord, in addition to fixing the
device to a height unreachable by small children.
How to install safe vertical blinds here.
Brett
added there were additional things parents could do to reduce the
chance of harm to small children.
“Cots,
beds, change tables, desks and chairs should not be near window cords
or curtains and any cord length should be bundled into an appropriate
device and fixed to the wall where it is reachable only by adults,”
he said.
The
Australian Government advise that the bottom of any cord should be
over 1600mm from the ground, ensuring small children cannot reach the
cord.
For
families who already have blinds or curtains installed, Brett
recommends a safety check and a visit to the local hardware or
curtain store to install the correct device if required.
For
families looking to install blinds, Brett advises buyers to make sure
their supplier has the correct safety devices and does not leave any
additional cord length.
“Ask
your blind supplier straight up if they use safety devices to bundle the
cords. Make sure they know there are small children in the house and
any hazard is not welcome in your home.
“There
should not be a moment when a child’s life if compromised, so as
soon as the blinds are fitted double check the safety features to
make sure your child will be safe.
“For
children old enough to understand, make sure they know that only
parents or older siblings are allowed to operate the vertical blind cords or
curtains,” he said.
The
Blind Factory are a leading Victorian supplier of made to measure and
made to last, quality roller, venetian and roman blinds, shutters and
awnings.
The
Blind Factory has the experience and products to suit every home and
offer an industry leading five year warranty and free consultation.
