We’ve all read the newspaper reports; they are harrowing to say the least. Unfortunately, blinds have been at the center of a lot of concerning stories over the years, with numerous infants being injured or worse due to the cords that are present on these products.
It’s meant that the industry really has had to shape-up and change. Companies have had to adapt and release “safer” products, while parents also need to be more aware of the dangers and what can be done to drastically slash the risk of catastrophe occurring again.
Fortunately, the industry has done its part and made blinds considerably safer for children. When one considers the fact that blinds used to be operated entirely by cords, it’s bordering on the incredible that this now doesn’t have to be the case. Cordless designs mean that the days of dangling strings are long gone and blinds are operated in a more modern, and completely safe, manner.
We could also talk about some of the other mechanism developments. For example, some companies have break-away devices, where a clip ensures that any cord that is attached to a blind will break away with sufficient pressure. While there are guidelines set for the pressure thresholds, most companies surpass these in a bid to promote even more safety.
However, as our primary aim is to present a checklist, let’s rattle through some of the ways you as a parent can improve the safety of your blinds.
Firstly, there’s the cleat cord. Once upon a time this might have been seen as one of those “last minute” accessories that ultimately never got installed. Now it goes without saying that much more attention is placed on these and you should always make it a priority to attach it to the wall. From here on, you can wrap the cord around the cleat and safely out of the way of reaching hands. It’s an absolutely essential accessory for any corded blind and improves their safety no-end.
Next, we’re going to talk about something which doesn’t even relate to the blind – or any accessory that might be packaged alongside it. While the layout of your room might suggest that a bookcase or chair looks the part in front of your nursery’s window, in reality it’s poor practice to say the least. After all, such furniture will only act as a climbing frame. Even if you have hung your cord around the cleat, this string suddenly becomes completely accessible if some sort of furniture is around to provide a helping hand.
As you can see, the blinds industry has changed enormously. Firstly, manufacturers have fine-tuned their approach and through the development of cordless products and ones which boast far more child-friendly features, things are just a whole lot safer. Then, when you consider all of the guidance that has been made available to parents in relation to installation and basic furniture precautions, it becomes clear that blinds have changed considerably over recent times – and all this change is for the better.
