Guidance

Child safety: blind cords

Resources to support blind cord safety and raise awareness.

• From: Office for Product Safety and Standards
• Published: 15 February 2021
• Last updated: 25 January 2024 — See all updates

These resources were published in January 2024 and replace the legacy resources produced for a product safety campaign undertaken in May and June 2021.

Blind cord safety

Blind cords and loops pose a potential danger to young children but there are steps people can take to reduce the risks. New blinds with looped cords must have child safety devices installed at the point of manufacture or be sold with the blind.

Fit a tidy, tensioner or cleat

Tidies and tensioners should be firmly fixed to an adjoining surface to ensure that the cord or chain is permanently held tight. Cleats should be positioned out of children’s reach on an adjacent surface that is at least 1.5 metres from the floor. After blind use, cords should be fastened up in a figure of eight making sure all the spare cord is secured on the cleat.

Move furniture away from windows

Children love to climb so keep furniture away from blinds. This includes cots, beds, highchairs, and play pens.

Posters

English

• Blind cords poster 1 – print version (PDF, 8.14 MB, 2 pages)
• Blind cords poster 1 – web version (PDF, 3.7 MB, 2 pages)
• Blind cords poster 2 – print version (PDF, 10 MB, 1 page)
• Blind cords poster 2 – web version (PDF, 4.25 MB, 1 page)

Welsh

• Blind cords poster 1W – print version (PDF, 8.14 MB, 2 pages)
• Blind cords poster 1W – web version (PDF, 3.81 MB, 2 pages)
• Blind cords poster 2W – print version (PDF, 10.1 MB, 1 page)
• Blind cords poster 2W – web version (PDF, 4.19 MB, 1 page)

Social media

English

• Blind cords social media 1 (JPEG, 1.09 MB)
• Blind cords social media 2 (JPEG, 1.06 MB)

Welsh

• Blind cords social media 1W (JPEG, 829 KB)
• Blind cords social media 2W (JPEG, 829 KB)

Published 15 February 2021
Last updated 25 January 2024 + show all updates

1. 25 January 2024

   New resources published.

2. 15 February 2021

   First published.