Is Banning Everything Really The Answer?

[ck1]

This is a really tragic story and very sad that a little girl's life has been lost, but are they right to start a campaign against banning cords on blinds? As parents we all have a responsibility to make our homes safe and these kind of accidents are hardly new. Is this just a way to assign responsibility elsewhere by suggesting the blinds are inherently dangerous?

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-gloucestershire-24318197

[New Judge]

"Unfortunately it appears that some put looks before safety."

Then that's their choice. There is no need for government to become involved in such decisions.

[coccinelle]

I know of a family who lost their young toddler when he pulled on the TV wire and the TV fell on top of him. We can't go round banning TVs.

[boxtops]

"posh people who have blinds"? We've got blinds, most people in our street have got blinds, and we're not posh.

[joko]

its just a kneejerk reaction i think, based on feelings of guilt

they feel if they create a huge fuss about how terribly dangerous these things are, then it deflects the focus off themselves and people wont blame them for the childs death.

they are refusing to accept that they left the cord loose - despite there being precautions and even things provided to store the cords out of the way - they didnt bother to install them or use them
its also likely that she left the child a lot longer than a toilet break

the fact that the manufacturers provide this stuff means they know there is a risk - perhaps there should be more serious warnings on the instructions etc - but they cant be held responsible if someone chooses to ignore that.

terrible thing to have happened but there are cord and ropes on lots of things - you cant ban everything.
banning these will not happen since millions of people have them - who is going to go round every house and check every window?

[ludwig]

//
"Unfortunately it appears that some put looks before safety."
Then that's their choice. There is no need for government to become involved in such decisions. //

NJ, there wouldn't be if it was only their own safety they were putting at risk with their decision, but if it's someone elses - yours, mine, or a childs, then there probably is.

A ban on these is silly though, for the reasons many have already stated.

[Zacs-Master]

As I've already pointed out, many hours ago, there are several companies already selling cordless blinds. If the parents were so concerned maybe they should have changed them.

[zebo]

The blinds in our house have a cord which runs through a white block fixed to the wall, hence the cord isn't free. I do agree though that too many people expect others to bear the responsibility of caring for their children, sad as this case may be. It is a recurring problem, a poor child dies every few years and the same discussion ensues. Surely parents need to childproof their homes, blinds, undersink cupboards, knives etc.

[youngmafbog]

Someone else has to be to blame in this country. Where there is blame their is a claim and a scumbag lawyer in the wings to 'help out'.

Unfortunately this is not new and will continue until parent start to think. Legislation is clearly of no use here.