Ikea US Stores No Longer Selling Blinds With Cords

Amid continued reports of child strangulations on window blinds, IKEA says it will no longer sell window coverings made with exposed pull cords. Under the move, it is phasing out the blinds in the USA ahead of its previously planned global phase out date of January 1, 2016.

According to research by the US Consumer Product Safety Commission, between 1996 and 2012, almost one young child per month on average died from strangulation by window cords.

Ikea said the statistics spurred its decision to ditch the cords.

A spokesman for Lowe’s said the company is “aggressively exploring options” to eliminate window coverings with cords by the end of 2018. A year ago the IKEA.com websites attracted 1.6 billion visitors. The cords that dangle from window blinds might seem unassuming, but they can pose a fatal threat if they accidentally wrap around babies’ or toddlers’ necks. Founded in 1943, IKEA’s business philosophy is to offer a wide range of products of good design and function at prices so low, the majority of people can afford them.