Ban called for window blinds.

[anotheoldgit]

http://tinyurl.com/37yvdmx

Yet another very tragic case, but I don't think there is need to ban corded blinds.

When are some of today's parents going to learn, it's a big responsibility bringing up young children?

Almost everything one buys these days carries some form of warning, I know some hidden dangers need to be warned against, but just because someone meets a tragic end from such dangers, there can't always be a call for that particular item to be banned.

In this case the cot could have been placed away from the cord, since there have been numerous other tragedies attached to children and blind cords.

Accidents will always happen but many can be prevented from just taking the time to make certain observations, ie look around, is it safe to leave baby there, make sure certain things are out of reach or best removed etc, etc.

[jno]

agree. A ban on careless parents would make more sense (though I'm not actually advocating one).

[ummmm]

There are many accidents waiting to happen.

[Gromit]

If it wasn't for window blinds, it would be curtains for us all.

[ChuckFickens]

It's a tragic story but if everything that could possibly be a danger was banned we'd all be living in empty rooms with padded walls!

[B00]

I saw this news story earlier,and thought about posting it...

Whilst it's a tragic case, I'm not sure which was more unbelievable, the fact a ban is being called for, or the fact some countries have already enforced it.

[ummmm]

I think parents who have lost a child look for someone/thing to blame.

[jake-the-peg]

It's all well and good to talk about careless parenting after the event but I think if one of us had posted about the dangers of blind cords in nurseries yesterday there would have been a chorus of 'elf and safety gone mad replies

[jno]

true, jake; but a wise parent does do a quick check on things like cords hanging around cots. In jno jnr's childhood we spent a lot of time removing anything that could have been considered hazardous from ground level (and cot level). I presume we weren't unusual in this, though of course I don't know.

But this case sounds like a bereaved parent looking for someone to blame. Why her distress should leave me unable to choose the soft furninshings I want is beyond me.

[skunkeye]

Might as well get rid of airbags & crumple zones in cars as well as only careless people have accidents and it'll teach them to be more careful.

[B00]

I wouldn't have a cot under the window anyway, if nothing else it's always slightly colder there.

Still, always easy to say "if that were me...."

Those poor parents.

[ChuckFickens]

Having actually read the story now it's a typical daily mail over dramatised headline, she is not calling for window blinds to be banned as the headline states, she is calling for looped cords on blinds to be banned.

[redcrx]

they are not calling for a ban of window blinds as such, they want blinds to be made without the ringed cords.

That said though, the home is full of dangers to youngsters and adults alike. Even in a room of padded walls (as mentioned by Chuck) you could still hurt yourself.

A tragic loss for those parents whose children have died in this way though :(

[MickyMacgraw]

It's always really sad to hear these kinds of stories especially when it sometimes so easily could be avoided with hindsight.
Our homes and gardens contain dangers for newborns, toddlers teenagers and adults so it's up to us to remain vigilant and constantly keep an eye on the young old and vulnerable and their surroundings for potential dangers but even this is not foolproof and sadly these things do happen.

[jno]

yes, I don't want to sound as if I haven't any sympathy for the parents, it must be terrible. But I wouldn't want to bring up a baby in a sterile environment of any sort; children have got to learn to cope with a risky world - and it's best if their parents already do so.

[NazNomad]

Keep the blinds, but enforce a ''Should This Person Be Allowed To Breed'' test for anyone thinking of doing so.

[anotheoldgit]

Yes Chuck you could also accuse me of over dramatising the issue with my headline 'Ban Called For Window Blinds.

But I think the Daily Mail may have unintentionally made the same mistake as myself, I myself didn't intentionally try to dramatise it, hence my first line

'Yet another very tragic case, but I don't think there is need to ban corded blinds'.

I was unaware of it until Chuck pointed it out, sorry.

[Trotbot]

We have blinds, the 'cords' are plastic, with a breaking strain that would be snapped by a small cat. Doesn't look as flash as cord, two are broken by toddlers swinging on them, but we realised the danger.

My old form tutor used to say ' common sense is not so common' every single day. We all thought he was a complete joke, until we realised he was absolutely spot on. Touch of the Mark Twains.

[anotheoldgit]

It's just some parents these days just don't seem to see the dangers.

Take for instance your local supermarket, time and time again one hears warnings over the inter-com, asking for parents not to allow their children to stand in the shopping trolleys, does it make any difference? To some no.

Having walking difficulties I need to use the stores electric shopping scooter, the other day I was travelling along one of the aisles, when out of side aisle came an infant crawling along the floor, lucky I was not looking sideways surveying the goods.

I have also witnessed mothers who leave their children alone in unlocked cars, while they take their empty shopping trolleys back over to the other end of the car park.

[ChuckFickens]

Ah yes, of course, that must be it...

The Daily Mail must have unintentionally made a mistake that caused their headline to be overly dramatic.....

Every day!