[Kat-L]

Heard from Child Welfare today. They are NOT demanding that foster parents remove corded window treatments from their windows. However, in the next foster parent newsletter, they are going to recommend that foster parents check blinds for safety. Per the social worker, Angel's death was just an unfortunate accident. She compared Angel to another child who choked on a matchbox car. Sometimes... accidents happen. Well...I have news for them. I'm not going to stop until corded window treatments ARE illegal in foster homes. CPS has moved on. His case is closed. But I'm not done.

Link to Angel's memorial: Virtual Memorials
Password is: cookieboy

[UTbrie]

Bravo to you for continuing to advocate for foster children's safety. Often times rules are born out of tragedy. Look at a recent celebrity's child who was strangled by the safety cord on a treadmill. It was nobody's fault, but it is our responsibility to correct those issues once we realize they are a danger. I am still praying for you and your family. May God give you strength for the upcoming months ahead, and for all the "aniversary's" you will have to deal with....first Thanksgiving, first Christmas, first birthday without him....Again, words aren't enough to console you for your loss, but just know all of us on this board are here to support you!

[irelady10]

Ditto to what UTbrie said. Fight to keep all kids from this danger!

I am moving in 10 days and will be removing the blinds in my new apartment, even though they supposedly the "safe" ones.

You and your family are in my prayers.

[shavon]

I am so glad you posted..You have been on my mind constantly..I have not taken my blinds down but I have fixed the cord where it can not be reached by the baby.

God bless you and all you have done and are doing for foster children!

[Kat-L]

Originally Posted by shavon

I am so glad you posted..You have been on my mind constantly..I have not taken my blinds down but I have fixed the cord where it can not be reached by the baby.

God bless you and all you have done and are doing for foster children!

I thought mine was out of reach. I had it tied up to the top of the blind in a bow (so I'd be able to undo it later if I needed to)
Hanna showed the detective how she climbed from the bottom of her bed to the window sill and then stood on the sill and reached up to pull down the blind cord. She told him they were going to use it for a zip line like Diego does (Go Diego Go)

[Kat-L]

Originally Posted by irelady10

Ditto to what UTbrie said. Fight to keep all kids from this danger!

I am moving in 10 days and will be removing the blinds in my new apartment, even though they supposedly the "safe" ones.

You and your family are in my prayers.

RediShade are cordless. And, they are only $5.00 each. Right now, RediShades are the only ones endorsed by "Parents for Window Blind Safety". PWBS is a group of parents who lost children (more than 112 kids in the last 9 years) on window blind cords.

Parents for Window Blind Safety: PFWBS gives RediShade their seal of approval

[crick]

I remember this spring we had a thread on the forums discussing this very issue of safety and blinds. Unfortunate accidents are often key to parents being more educated on things, so hopefully another accident doesn't have to occur.

[irelady10]

Thanks for the info about the redishades; just googled it and see they are available at Lowes, among other places.

[onhazier]

What about roller shades? They are frequently cordless.

[potentialsinglemom]

Hugs to you. Thank you for posting about the RediShades. I had not heard of those.

[.Ruby.]

thank you for sharing about the Redi Shades. when we bought our home every window had a mini blind on it..we still havent changed them but we will now.
So sorry for your loss.

[shavon]

I checked out the website..and now have a silly question...How do they open and close?

[EandDmom]

Originally Posted by shavon

I checked out the website..and now have a silly question...How do they open and close?

I don't know but it looks like it just goes up and down and doesn't actually open. Like a roller shade?? If I am wrong someone please correct me. I love that they have room blackening ones since dh works nights we need that feature.

[Stillamom]

Kat
So glad you are working so hard for this cause. What happened to Angel was so tragic.

My grandson will be coming for an extended stay next month. I am scared to death that the blinds I have could be dangerous.

would you be kind enough to list the brand names of both the blinds that caused Angel's death and the ones you mentioned in your post May 29.

I did that. I used to keep the cords tied in a knot at the top of the window. However, Hanna & "Brandon" would still pull on the blinds and I was forever fixing them. I finally decided to just remove them and use just the curtains until the little ones were bigger.

I want to be absolutely sure neither of these are the ones I am currently using.

Keep up the good work. Hope Child Welfare changes their decision. The safety of the kids is so crucial.

[DreamingAzure]

Kat-L, I feel deeply for you and your girls, I can only imagine how difficult Angel's death has been for all of you.

I can understand how you would feel the need to keep this from ever happening again. But, I agree with your SW, this was an unfortunate accident. It wasn't something deliberate, planned or thought out. It just happened.

If we made everything that ever hurt or killed a child illegal for foster parents to have in their homes we would have to live nude, in a cardboard box. I know of a 3 year old who killed himself, accidentally, by tying his thin, anti-suffocation blanket around his neck so that he could be Super Man. He died by having something in his bed that was suppose to keep him safe. Accidents happen.

Perhaps there are alternatives to help kids stay safe around blind cords then to make them illegal.