A coroner has warned parents to check their windows for looped blind cords after a toddler choked to death after becoming entangled in one.
Speaking at an inquest into the death of two-year-old Bryan Saba, who tragically lost his life at his home in Portadown, Co Armagh, last September, Northern Ireland’s coroner Joseph McCrisken said there had been 27 deaths linked to looped blind cords across Britain since 1999.
Three children died after becoming entangled in the them in the last three years alone. According to a report in the Irish Independent, Mr McCrisken told Belfast Coroners’ Court:
“Nobody is to blame for what happened to Bryan. And what happened to him could also occur in hundreds if not thousands of homes across Northern Ireland.”
“There remains thousands, tens of thousands of lethal looped blind cords still in homes of parents and carers in Northern Ireland today.
“The cords are lethal and silent killers of babies and young children which lurk in homes of parents and carers of young children.”
“I, as coroner for Northern Ireland, urge and plead with each and every parent, grandparent, aunt, uncle, child minder, landlord or carer of children to double check each and every blind in your home,”
According to the National Standards Authority of Ireland, there are some steps you can take to retro-fit your old blinds to make them safe.
Here are some tips:
• Cords ending in a loop are particularly risky. Cut the cord to get rid of the loop and install tassels.
• Cords should end at least 1.6 metres above the ground so children cannot reach them. Replace cords with curtain or blind wands.
• Where cords cannot be cut, a tie down or tension device can be used to pull the cord tight and secure it to the floor or wall.
• Never put a cot, bed, high chair or play pen near a window or patio door where a child can reach a curtain or blind cord.
• Keep sofas, chairs, tables, shelves or bookcases away from windows to prevent children climbing up and reaching curtain or blind cords.
