Another toddler dies in blind cord tragedy

Hamish Hutchinson • Published 5 Aug 2009 12:44 Comments 1 Comment

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OCHIL MP Gordon Banks is urging the government to introduce a ban on looped blind cords after the tragic death of a toddler in Wales.

Gethin Ifor Jones, aged 23 months, was in his bedroom when a blind cord became caught around his neck at his parents' end-of-terrace home in Nefyn at about 10.30pm last Wednesday.

He was found by his family who freed him and tried to revive him until paramedics arrived.

Only-child Gethin - due to celebrate his second birthday next week - was taken to hospital where he died with his heartbroken parents Allan and Llinos at his bedside. Police are investigating the tragedy.

MP Gordon Banks said there will be more tragedies like this unless urgent action is taken and is calling on the government to implement the recommendation of Alloa Sheriff David Mackie, who heard evidence at the Fatal Accident Inquiry into the tragic death of Menstrie tot Muireann McLaughlin last year.

The FAI, which was held at Alloa Sheriff Court earlier this year, heard that Muireann had climbed on a toy box to wave goodbye to her grandmother from the upstairs window of her home in Menstrie and slipped.

Sheriff David Mackie said the dangers associated with looped blind cords, which are linked to the death of at least one child a year in the UK, had been well-known in the US, Canada, Australia and Britain since the early 1990s.

Mr Banks, along with the Alloa & Hillfoots Advertiser and Muireann's parents Katie and Angus, has been running a campaign to ban loop cord blinds.

He told the Advertiser that not enough had been done to implement a ban despite it being over a year since the fatal accident and the strong recommendations from Sheriff Mackie.

He said, "I believe the government have been dragging their heels and now need to do something.

"I understand the restrictions which come from working within European guidelines but we have got a strong ruling from a British Court and I would have hoped by now the government would have taken action and come up with a programme on how to comply with the disposal handed down by Sheriff Mackie.

"Because of the lack of action children continue to be killed. That is totally unacceptable.

"The longer it takes for this to be resolved the more children are going to die."

Mr Banks tabled an Early Day Motion on 4 March last year which received the support of 85 MPs and has subsequently held a debate on the matter in the House of Commons.

He has also held meetings with Ministers and Government officials and is aware that limited steps have been taken to improve practices on a European wide basis.

And as a result of Sheriff Mackie's determination, Mr Banks tabled a question to the Department of Business, Innovation and Skills in June.

The Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents issued advice to parents and carers of young children with a spokesman saying, "We hear about one or two of these tragic incidents happening each year of young children being killed by a window blind.

"We believe that it is important for parents to be aware of the dangers that those window blind cords pose and take the necessary precautions.

"When parents have all the information available they can make an informed decision.

"Precautions such as cutting the loop of the cord so that it hangs in short strands, or making sure that it's always tied up so that it's out of the reach of any young children, can all help.

"One of the dangers is that a loop could hang at waist height for an adult but that could be at neck height for a child. It's important to remember that blind cords aren't the only hazard in the home.

"Parents can't remove every single risk, but they do need to be aware that these things happen and of the steps that they can take to minimise the risk of accidents."

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kevin
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Nov 18, 14:26
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what p**ses me off is that it takes an MP to get behind this for it to get anywhere, i would have thought that common sense would have done the trick, BAN THESE CORDS

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Feb 8, 15:02
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