Note: The safety recommendations in this document have been superceded by more
recent advice. See Children Can Strangle in Window Covering Cords -- html or pdf

The Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) is working with manufacturers of window blinds and shades to reduce stangulation deaths to young children that occur when they get caught in the loops of window covering pull-cords.

CPSC had been concerned with the hazards of window covering pull cords since the early 1980's. Since 1981, over 170 strangulation cases to children involving window cords have been reported, or about one death per month. In about half of these cases, children between eight months and four years old were found hanging in the loop of the cords. In other cases, children were found with pull cords wrapped around their necks. The younger children who died, usually between 8 and 23 months old, were in cribs that were placed near the window cords. The older children, usually between 2-1/2 and 4 years old, strangled in cords when they climbed on furniture to look out windows.

One of the first initiatives of Chairman Ann Brown was to engage manufacturers in discussions to address this serious hazard. In a joint press conference, CPSC and the Window Covering Safety Council (WCSC) advised parents and other consumers to eliminate the loop in two-corded horizontal blinds in the following manner (see figure):

cut the cord above the tassel,

remove the equalizer buckle,

add a safety tassel at the end of each cord (available free from manufacturers).

Manufacturers took steps to prevent future strangulations by eliminating the loop on two-corded horizontal blinds manufactured after January 1, 1995. For other types of window covering pull cords, such as vertical blinds and drapery cords, the industry recommends that consumers use inexpensive tie-down devices to reduce the strangulation hazard.

At present, CPSC is working with WCSC to develop a voluntary standard for window covering pull cords. Manufacturers are free to use any design approach that will satisfactorily address the hazard. CPSC staff estimates that if loops are eliminated from all new and existing window coverings, about 25 children's lives will be saved over 5 years.

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