Most parents childproof their kitchens, cover their electrical outlets, and latch their cabinets — but overlook one of the most consistently deadly hazards in the home. The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) has identified corded window coverings as one of the top five hidden hazards in American homes. On average, about nine children under 5 years of age die every year from strangling in window blinds, shades, draperies, and other window coverings with cords. There were more than 200 incidents involving children up to 8 years old due to strangulation hazards from window covering cords during a 13-year period from January 2009 through December 2021 — and nearly half of those incidents resulted in death.
How Children Become Entrapped
Young children can quickly and silently become strangled on pull cords, continuous loop cords, inner cords, or any other accessible cord on a window covering. Common scenarios include infants in cribs placed near windows becoming entangled in cords while sleeping or playing, and toddlers climbing on furniture to look out a window and becoming caught in the cords. Strangulation deaths and injuries can occur in any room of the home where a window covering with a cord is installed.
The Safest Solution: Go Cordless
Cordless window coverings are the only option that fully eliminates the strangulation hazard. CPSC recommends cordless window coverings in all homes where children live or visit. If purchasing new cordless window coverings is not immediately possible, take the following steps to reduce — but not eliminate — the risk:
- Move all cribs, beds, furniture, and toys away from windows and window covering cords, preferably to another wall.
- Make pull cords as short as possible by eliminating dangling lengths.
- Ensure cord stops are installed properly and adjusted to limit the movement of inner lift cords. Cord stops should be within 1 to 2 inches from the head rail when the blind is fully lowered.
- Never tie window blind cords or chains together — this creates a new loop in which a child can become entangled.
- Anchor continuous-loop cords for draperies and blinds to the floor or wall.
- Contact the Window Covering Safety Council at 800-506-4636 or windowcoverings.org for a free repair kit if your blinds do not have cord stops.
Important Note on Older Window Coverings
Window blinds purchased before 1995 may have outer pull cords ending in loops — a design that was found to cause strangulation and is no longer permitted. If you have older blinds, replace them with cordless products or obtain a free repair kit. CPSC has recalled over five million window coverings in recent years. Check SaferProducts.gov to verify whether your window coverings have been recalled.
To report a dangerous window covering or a product-related injury, visit SaferProducts.gov or call CPSC’s Hotline at 800-638-2772.
