Victorian families can now get a free blind and curtain cord safety kit to keep dangerous cords out of the way of babies and small children.

Minister for Consumer Affairs, the Honourable Tony Robinson MP, launched the safety campaign today at The Royal Children’s Hospital.

The launch responds to a number of recent incidents where blind and curtain cords have become tangled around children’s necks.

“Two Victorian children died last year after being strangled by blind or curtain cords and more children have been admitted to hospital with serious injuries after becoming tangled in cords,” Mr Robinson said.

Over the past 10 years, the RCH has admitted seven children who sustained blind or curtain cord injury.  Of these patients, four died.  RCH Director of Emergency Medicine Dr Simon Young says this is a startling figure.

“The level of injury we see in patients who have experience blind or curtain cord strangulation is, in most cases, extremely serious,” Dr Young said.

“It doesn’t take much to make your blinds and curtain safe and you may save a child’s life by taking a little extra care,” he said.

For more information or to request a free safety kit, contact Consumer Affairs Victoria on 1300 55 81 81 or visit www.consumer.vic.gov.au