The answer is YES! Corded window treatments can be a safety hazard to small children. Over a 26-year period, emergency rooms have treated almost 17,000 children for strangulation due to window treatments with cords, 271 of which ended up in death.
From 2012 to 2017 there were 50 reported deaths due to cord strangulation. Of those deaths, 43 percent occurred while the parent thought the child was sleeping and the other cases occurred while the child was playing. During the same time frame, several companies had their corded blinds recalled, because of the strangulations.
As an effort to address the safety hazards related to cord strangulation, in 2018 the Window Covering Manufacturers Association (WCMA) and the Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) decided to put a plan in place to ban Cordless window treatments, but only on the level of mass production. This included retail and online purchases but did not however include the making of custom-made blinds.
We at Statewide Blinds understand the importance of safety when it comes to purchasing window treatments. We adhere to the official recommendations for custom made treatments that the cord is no longer than 40 percent of the total length of the shade, making it as safe as possible.
Statewide Blinds takes pride in not only making sure your window treatments are as safe as possible, but that they fit correctly and are properly installed.
Come visit our website at www.statewideblinds.com to read other topics on our blog or for more helpful tips, and check out our wide selection of window treatments, room organizers, and awnings.