Changes to standards for blinds in 2014 have led to improved product safety.
New blinds with looped cords must have child safety devices installed at the point of manufacture or sold with the blind.
However, blinds installed earlier may not have these features and millions of households could be affected. Our advice will help you make your home safer for your children and young visitors.
Fit a tidy, tensioner or a cleat: tidies and tensioners should be firmly fixed to an adjoining surface so that the cord or chain are permanently held tight.
Cleats should be positioned out of children’s reach on an adjacent surface, at least 1.5 metres from the floor.
Cords should be fastened in a figure of eight after every use of the blind, making sure all the spare cord is secured on the cleat.
Move furniture away from windows. Children love to climb, so keep furniture clear of window blinds. This includes cots, beds, highchairs and playpens.
For more information and advice, go to:
Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents
Child Accident Prevention Trust
Trading Standards
Make it Safe
Support our campaign by retweeting us or sending out these important messages yourself, using the hashtag #blindcordsafety
Download our campaign materials:
Print ready poster and leaflet
PDF, 460 KB, 1 page
This file may not be suitable for users of assistive technology.
Request an accessible format.
If you use assistive technology (such as a screen reader) and need a version of this document in a more accessible format, please email
[email protected]. Please tell us what format you need. It will help us if you say what assistive technology you use.
Poster and leaflet for immediate use
Twitter templates
PNG, 271 KB
This file may not be suitable for users of assistive technology.
Request an accessible format.
If you use assistive technology (such as a screen reader) and need a version of this document in a more accessible format, please email
[email protected]. Please tell us what format you need. It will help us if you say what assistive technology you use.
PNG, 351 KB
This file may not be suitable for users of assistive technology.
Request an accessible format.
If you use assistive technology (such as a screen reader) and need a version of this document in a more accessible format, please email
[email protected]. Please tell us what format you need. It will help us if you say what assistive technology you use.
PNG, 219 KB
This file may not be suitable for users of assistive technology.
Request an accessible format.
If you use assistive technology (such as a screen reader) and need a version of this document in a more accessible format, please email
[email protected]. Please tell us what format you need. It will help us if you say what assistive technology you use.
PNG, 314 KB
This file may not be suitable for users of assistive technology.
Request an accessible format.
If you use assistive technology (such as a screen reader) and need a version of this document in a more accessible format, please email
[email protected]. Please tell us what format you need. It will help us if you say what assistive technology you use.
