Saturday 21 Jan 2012 @ 09:05
WiredGov Newswire (news from other organisations)
WiredGov Newswire (news from other organisations)
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RoSPA HELPS SCOTTISH FAMILIES “MAKE IT SAFE” WITH BLIND CORD CAMPAIGN
A popular campaign has helped more than 12,000 families in Scotland to cut the risk of toddlers being accidentally strangled in their home by blind cords.
The Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents (RoSPA) is aware of at least 20 children dying in blind cord accidents in the UK since 1999 (with nine occurring since the beginning of 2010). Suspecting that there could be many more near misses, RoSPA set up a pilot Make it Safe project in North Lanarkshire with financial backing from the Scottish Government’s Community Safety unit.
Following the initial success of the campaign, RoSPA teamed up with local authorities, fire services, childcare and home safety organisations in Fife, East Dunbartonshire, the Borders and South Lanarkshire to raise awareness about the danger of looped blind cords in the home.
Free safety packs were distributed following huge demand. All 12,000 packs contained a cleat - a small plastic device that is fitted to the side of the window for the operating cord to be wrapped around - as well as a leaflet providing parents and carers with safety tips.
Jennifer Henderson, RoSPA Scotland’s home safety officer, said: “The initiative has gone phenomenally well across Scotland - we have worked in partnership with a number of organisations to raise awareness and we’ve handed out thousands of packs to parents and carers.
“The feedback from families that have benefited has been overwhelmingly positive - those receiving the packs have been passing on the knowledge to other parents or carers as well as taking additional action to improve safety in their homes.”
Roseanna Cunningham, Minister for Community Safety and Legal Affairs, said: “The Scottish Government has been happy to support the extremely practical and important work done by RoSPA in leading Make it Safe and taking its messages across Scotland.
“Any instance of a death involving blind cords is a tragedy, not least because there are simple steps that can be taken to prevent them. If they haven’t done so already, I would urge anyone with young children in their care to learn more about the risks associated with blind cords, so that they can make sure they have taken the necessary steps to protect their loved ones.”
RoSPA’s own research indicates that most accidental blind cord deaths happen in a bedroom, involving children aged between 16 and 36 months.
RoSPA advises people buying new blinds to look for designs that don’t have cords or chains. It also advises parents and carers not to put a child’s cot, bed, playpen or highchair near a window. Where there are blinds with cords or chains in the house, RoSPA advises that cords are kept tied up and out of the reach of young children, by using a cleat, cord tidy, clip or tie.
For more information about the dangers of looped blind cords visit: www.rospa.com/blindcords/.
To view the Make it Safe leaflet (produced in partnership with the British Blind and Shutter Association) click on www.rospa.com/HomeSafety/Info/blind-cord-safety.pdf.
The Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents (RoSPA) is aware of at least 20 children dying in blind cord accidents in the UK since 1999 (with nine occurring since the beginning of 2010). Suspecting that there could be many more near misses, RoSPA set up a pilot Make it Safe project in North Lanarkshire with financial backing from the Scottish Government’s Community Safety unit.
Following the initial success of the campaign, RoSPA teamed up with local authorities, fire services, childcare and home safety organisations in Fife, East Dunbartonshire, the Borders and South Lanarkshire to raise awareness about the danger of looped blind cords in the home.
Free safety packs were distributed following huge demand. All 12,000 packs contained a cleat - a small plastic device that is fitted to the side of the window for the operating cord to be wrapped around - as well as a leaflet providing parents and carers with safety tips.
Jennifer Henderson, RoSPA Scotland’s home safety officer, said: “The initiative has gone phenomenally well across Scotland - we have worked in partnership with a number of organisations to raise awareness and we’ve handed out thousands of packs to parents and carers.
“The feedback from families that have benefited has been overwhelmingly positive - those receiving the packs have been passing on the knowledge to other parents or carers as well as taking additional action to improve safety in their homes.”
Roseanna Cunningham, Minister for Community Safety and Legal Affairs, said: “The Scottish Government has been happy to support the extremely practical and important work done by RoSPA in leading Make it Safe and taking its messages across Scotland.
“Any instance of a death involving blind cords is a tragedy, not least because there are simple steps that can be taken to prevent them. If they haven’t done so already, I would urge anyone with young children in their care to learn more about the risks associated with blind cords, so that they can make sure they have taken the necessary steps to protect their loved ones.”
RoSPA’s own research indicates that most accidental blind cord deaths happen in a bedroom, involving children aged between 16 and 36 months.
RoSPA advises people buying new blinds to look for designs that don’t have cords or chains. It also advises parents and carers not to put a child’s cot, bed, playpen or highchair near a window. Where there are blinds with cords or chains in the house, RoSPA advises that cords are kept tied up and out of the reach of young children, by using a cleat, cord tidy, clip or tie.
For more information about the dangers of looped blind cords visit: www.rospa.com/blindcords/.
To view the Make it Safe leaflet (produced in partnership with the British Blind and Shutter Association) click on www.rospa.com/HomeSafety/Info/blind-cord-safety.pdf.
