Blind and curtain cord safety

The Australian Competition and Consumer Commission is leading a nation-wide campaign for checking and fixing dangerous blind and curtain cords after two infants were strangled by cords earlier this year. The campaign was launched on 8 December 2009 by ACCC Deputy Chairman, Peter Kell.

The ACCC and state and territory consumer regulators are working together to raise awareness of the potential hazards loose blind and curtain cords pose to young children.

• Hazards
• Statistics
• Our message
• Four key steps
• Get involved
• Suppliers
• Consumer and community groups
• Landlords and housing providers
• Key resources

Hazards

Infants can become tangled and choke when:

• sleeping in a cot or bed where loose cords or chains are hanging
• playing near loose or looped cords or chains
• standing on a chair, sofa or bed to look out of a window where there are loose or looped cords or chains.

Statistics

Since the early 90s at least 15 Australian infants have tragically died after becoming strangled by loose or looped blind and curtain cords. Some tragedies have been as recent as August and October this year.

Our message

Loose blind and curtain cords can kill
Fix them out of reach so kids are out of danger

Four key steps

There are four key steps to ensure that blind and curtain cords do not pose a threat to children:

1. Check that your blind and curtain cords are out of reach of children, even when you’re away on holidays.
2. Secure loose cords out of reach by using cleats or tensioning devices from a hardware or curtain and blind shop.
3. Choose safe blinds and curtains by making sure that new curtains and blinds have warning labels and provide a way to secure cords/chains out of reach.
4. Keep children away from all cords and chains.

The ACCC’s brochure Safety alert: Blind and curtain cords provides safety tips when buying and securing blind and curtain cords.

Get involved

As a supplier, consumer, community group or housing provider, you too can play your part to help get the message out and keep Australian children safe.

Suppliers

When talking to your customers you can help raise awareness of safety concerns:

• Remind them to fix any existing blind and curtain cords so they are out of reach of children.
• Tell them the importance of safety features that come with new blinds and curtain such as warning labels and devices that secure loops and strands out of reach of children.
• Give them a copy of the blind and curtain cord safety brochure—you can order copies by calling 1300 302 502.

You may also like to offer to check your customers’ old blind and curtain cords when you are doing an installation or perhaps provide them with free cleats, tensioning devices or tassels to secure cords out of reach.

Consumer and community groups

There are several key actions you can take when talking to consumers:

• Remind them to fix any old blind and curtain cords so they’re out of reach of children.
• Tell them the importance of safety features that come with new blinds and curtain such as warning labels and devices that secure loops and strands out of reach of children.
• Give them a copy of the blind and curtain cord safety brochure—you can order copies by calling 1300 302 502.

Landlords and housing providers

There are several key actions you can take to keep your tenants safe:

• Offer to check and fix existing blind and curtain cords in your properties so they’re out of reach of children or advise owners of problem cords.
• Ensure new blinds and curtains come with safety features such as warning labels and devices that secure loops and strands out of reach of children.
• Give your tenants a copy of the of the blind and curtain cord safety brochure—you can order copies by calling 1300 302 502.

Key resources

Brochure: Safety alert—Blind and curtain cords