A grandmother from Melbourne who lost her three-year-old grandson in an accident involving a window blind cord is pushing for stricter safety rules to guarantee that all homes are child-safe.
Lincoln was playing on a windowsill at his east Melbourne home in 2020 when he was found unconscious with the blind rope around his neck.
His grandma Kerrie is telling the horrific story of her family in an effort to save other lives.
Lincoln was adored by his family, according to Kerrie.
She went on, “My son called him his right arm and best friend.”
She said that the family’s Melbourne rental property was the scene of the event and that no rules currently exist mandating older properties to adhere to blind safety standards.
In homes built after 2010, window furniture must be taut and secured to the wall to reduce the possibility of entanglement; this safety regulation, however, does not apply to older homes.
It suggests that a lot of older houses, particularly rental properties, are still unsafe for children.
“People’s ignorance never ceases to amaze me,” Kerrie said.
“I go to AirBnBs and hotels now and I’m at them, ‘Hey your blinds aren’t attached to the wall.'”
Kerrie claims that in partnership with Kidsafe, she is extending the safety requirements for older homes.
“I want it to be Lincoln’s law,” she said.
Kidsafe has been working with Kerrie and the state government to try and change the rules so that tenants in particular know that the blind and curtain ropes have been secured when they move into a new home.
The government is consulting on the potential of requiring blind cord safety for all rental residences, regardless of the age of the property.
According to Melanie Courtney, CEO of Kidsafe, families may easily improve the protection of their windows and curtains.
“Any looped or hanging cords are a danger to children, so they need to be affixed to the wall,” she said.
You can purchase a safety kit from your local hardware store or contact Consumer Affairs Victoria to get free assistance in repairing loose and potentially dangerous window blind cords.
