440 kids’ deaths in 50 years: How the U.S. failed to stop a household item from killing children
Hundreds of children have been strangled to death on cords from window blinds, shades and curtains. Why didn’t the Consumer Product Safety Commission do more sooner?
Death by Delay Hundreds of young children have been strangled on cords from window blinds, shades and curtains in the past 50 years. Officials and manufacturers knew about the danger — why didn’t they do more sooner?
By Suzy Khimm and Elizabeth ChuckDec. 20, 2023
Babies put to sleep in their cribs reach out and grab cords dangling from the window blinds above them.
Young children pretend window coverings are superhero capes, or that the beaded operating cords are necklaces.
When cords from blinds, curtains and shades get caught around children’s necks, they can cut off airflow, preventing victims from calling for help.
Rating: 5