fitted with a safety device at the point of
manufacture. The regulations also ban
the use of cords and chains that could
create a hazardous loop in premises
where children up to 42 months are
likely to be present. Sadly no such
regulations are in place in Hong Kong,
but that is no reason to overlook the
danger these cords pose and invest in
safer options.
Solve the problem
Install blinds that do not have a cord,
especially in a child’s bedroom. Do not
place a child’s cot, bed, playpen or
highchair near blinds or curtains. The
pull cords on curtains and blinds should
be kept short and out of a child’s reach
(cutting is not recommended, however).
Tie up the cords or use cleats, cord
tidies, clips or ties to secure them.
pulling themselves up against them or
even just from pulling out a drawer.
Sharp corners
Solve the problem
All cabinets, wardrobes, toy storage
units etc. should be fixed to the wall
by yourself or by a handyman, or by
the store you purchased the item from,
which is the case with Ikea. “At Ikea,
we are committed to creating a safer
life at home and the best way to deal
with hazards is to make sure you take
appropriate precautions. We believe
that chests of drawers are safe to use
when anchored to the wall. Ikea has for
many years provided tip-over restraint
kits with all chests of drawers over a
certain height, and wall attachment
is an integral part of the assembly
instructions. To reinforce this Ikea also
launched a global awareness campaign
called Secure It!”.
The hazard
Once your baby is rolling, crawling
or tottering around your home, any
innocent piece of furniture with sharp
corners can cause damage. In order to
avoid bumps, bruises or tears, it’s worth
thinking about alternatives to literally
bubble-wrapping the contents of
your home.
Blind cords/curtain ties
88 %
of unintentional
child poisoning
cases occur in
children less than
four-years-old
42
The hazard
Between 1999 and 2014 there were 27
fatalities involving babies and young
children becoming entangled with
window blind cords and chains in the
UK. This resulted in the introduction
of regulations across the European
Union requiring all existing blinds to
be made safe using a retrofit safety
device, and all cords and chains to be
www.playtimes.com.hk
Ikea Corner Bumper