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Young children may be at risk of injury, fatality from window blinds
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Window blinds and cords continue to remain a safety hazard for children aged younger than 6 years despite progress made in various manufacturers’ voluntary safety standards.
According to Gary A. Smith, MD, DrPH, from the Center for Injury Research and Policy in The Research Institute at Nationwide Children’s Hospital, and colleagues, these injuries are typically able to be treated in an ED; however, the likelihood of death increases when children become entangled in the cords of a window blind.
“Until all window blinds are cordless, parents should reduce the risk of window blind–related strangulation by replacing all blinds with cords, using a retrofit kit to address some types of cord hazards, and moving furniture away from windows,” Smith told Infectious Diseases in Children. “Take these steps in every room of the home and talk to people at other places where your child spends time.”
To describe window blind-related injuries that were both fatal and nonfatal in children aged younger than 6 years, the researchers conducted a retrospective analysis of data collected from the Consumer Product Safety Commission’s National Electronic Injury Surveillance System and In-Depth Investigation databases.
The databases revealed that between 1990 and 2015, approximately 16,827 window blind-related injuries were sustained by children aged younger than 6 years and treated in an ED (95% CI, 13,732-19,922). With the number of injuries sustained within this time, Smith and colleagues noted that the injury rate fell at 2.7 per 100,000 children.
Of those who were treated in EDs, 48.8% were “struck by” blinds, and entanglements occurred in 11.9% of cases. Children who were entangled were most likely to be tangled by blind cords (98.9%), and most injuries involved the neck (80.7%). Most children were able to be treated and discharged (93.4%).
Regarding entanglement incidents, 231 cases were noted in children aged younger than 6 years between 1996 and 2012. Nearly all (98.7%) injuries were sustained to the neck from either the blind operating cords (76.4%) or the inner cords of the blinds (22.1%). Of the children who sustained injuries from entanglement in cord blinds, 67.1% died.
“Pediatricians and pediatric care providers should include a discussion of window blind safety when counseling families of young children about home safety during well-child visits,” Smith said. “Injuries related to window blind cords peak between 1 to 4 years of age as toddlers gain mobility and become curious about their surroundings. Counseling about this danger should occur in anticipation of this increased mobility.”
Disclosures: The authors report no relevant financial disclosures.
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