Child Safety Priorities
By following these tips, you can help to keep your children safe in your home.
- Retrofit existing blinds
- Prevent cord and chain access
- Monitor children around windows
- Teach children cords or chains are not toys
Child Safety
Child Safety:
At Apollo Interiors Galway we have for many years been very conscious of Child Safety when cords or chains have been used in the home, P-Clip attached to the chain and the wall ensure we conform to European regulations on child safety.
As well as supplying and Installing all our Blinds and Curtains to the best Industry Standards we offer an extensive range of Remote Control Blinds and Curtains, these products considerably improve Child Safety in the home.
Due to small parts, cords and chains, all safety leaflets and regulations should be adhered to for the safety of young children.
As there are no chains on motorised blinds these are an extra safe and functional option if child safety is priority for you but be sure to tell your bigger children that they can't physically pull the blinds down themselves as this will cause damage.
Some photos of our beautiful childrens roller blind fabrics available to order.
More advice tips for child safety;
Window safety tips.
Window blinds can pose a strangulation hazard for young children if they are not properly installed and maintained. Here are some tips for window blind child safety:
Choose child-safe blinds:
Select blinds that do not have cords or chains within a child's reach. Examples include motorised blinds, roller blinds with wand control, Roman blinds with integrated cord management systems, and vertical blinds with wand or cordless operation.
Retrofit existing blinds:
Install roller blind motors.
If motors are not an option you should seek professional advice as some blind cords may be safely shortened.
Use cord cleats or tension devices to secure the cords to the wall or window frame.
Replace cords with child-safe wands or chains with breakaway connectors. These devices release under pressure, preventing entanglements.
More tips on monitoring children around windows.
Prevent cord access:
Keep furniture away from windows to discourage children from climbing up and reaching cords.
Tie cords high up on the wall or frame to prevent children from reaching them.
Cover cords with cord covers or decorative braids to make them less visible and tempting to children.
Monitor children around windows:
Never leave children unattended near windows, especially when playing or climbing.
Teach children to never play with window cords or chains.
Be vigilant about window safety, even in well-maintained homes.
Additional tips:
Replace old or damaged blinds promptly.
Ensure all window coverings are installed and maintained according to manufacturer guidelines.
By following these tips, you can help to keep your children safe.
NSAI Advice, some simple steps that can be taken immediately to protect your children
*some great advice below from the NSAI but if youy have older blinds you should call us before you cut any cords yourself as cutting in the wrong place can destroy your blind.
The NSAI advises parents of some simple steps that can be taken immediately to remove any potential hazards from existing blinds and help to prevent tragic accidents and fatalities in the home:
- Cords ending in a loop are particularly risky. If possible, cut the cord to get rid of the loop and install tassels;
- Cords should end at least 1.5 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 should be used to pull the cord tight and secure it to the floor or wall;
- Never place a child’s cot, bed, playpen or high chair near a window or patio door where a child could 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.
- View the additional information and video available from the National Consumer Agency on www.consumerhelp.ie/window-blinds
New standards from NSAI and the European Commission
“NSAI and the European Commission recognised the urgent need to update the existing window blind standards; the new standards provide a safety solution which can be applied to new products as well as blinds that have already been installed. Window blind cords that can form loops pose an extremely serious risk to young children, who can become entangled in the cords when playing near windows or climbing on window sills or furniture. It’s important that parents and employers are aware of the dangers and precautions that need to be taken with window blind cords in homes and businesses to ensure children’s safety,” said Maurice Buckley, CEO, NSAI.