Blind Cords: Hidden Hazard in Your Home
Window blind cords pose a silent but lethal risk to children, turning a common household item into a potential hazard. Across Utah and the nation, tragedies involving blind cords have resulted in devastating injuries and deaths, prompting legal actions and advocacy efforts to eliminate this danger. Blind cords are especially perilous because they create a loop or dangling line that children can easily access. A toddler’s natural curiosity and tendency to explore make these cords an attractive yet deadly hazard. When a child becomes entangled, their limited ability to untangle themselves, combined with their small neck size and low body weight, often results in strangulation within minutes.
The risk is exacerbated by the fact that many blinds are installed near cribs, beds, or furniture, giving children easy access to the cords. Unlike other household hazards, the danger of blind cords is often underestimated until a tragedy occurs. Even diligent parents may not realize how quickly a child can get caught in a cord, and the lack of mandatory safety features on many blinds makes the risk even greater.
One of Utah’s most heartbreaking incidents occurred in 2016 when 3-year-old Elsie Mahe, daughter of BYU athlete Reno Mahe, became entangled in a blind cord at her home. The cord strangled her before she could be rescued, resulting in her tragic death a week later. Our attorneys Alan Mortensen and Chris Cheney represented the family in a wrongful death lawsuit, arguing that the product’s design was inherently unsafe and lacked necessary safety features. In 2021, a jury awarded the family $25 million, recognizing the manufacturer’s failure to prioritize safety.
Another case our firm handled involved a toddler in Utah who survived a similar incident but suffered lasting medical complications. The child was found unconscious with a cord wrapped tightly around their neck, requiring emergency medical intervention.
Utah’s tragedies are part of a larger national problem. According to the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC), window blind cords have caused hundreds of child deaths and injuries. Nationally, the issue has prompted lawsuits, including a $42 million settlement in Texas after a 2-year-old died in his bedroom when he became tangled in a blind cord.
Cases like these have driven significant advocacy efforts. In 2018, the Window Covering Manufacturers Association adopted a new safety standard, requiring that most window coverings sold in the U.S. be cordless or have inaccessible cords. Major retailers, including Walmart, Home Depot, and Lowe’s, pledged to stop selling corded blinds. However, noncompliance remains a challenge, and many corded products are still available, especially in older homes.
Despite national efforts, Utah has yet to enact specific legislation banning corded blinds. This lack of regulation leaves children vulnerable and families without adequate protection. While the CPSC has issued recalls and warnings about corded blinds, these measures are voluntary and lack enforcement power.
Blind cord injuries and deaths are entirely preventable with proper safety measures. At Mortensen & Milne, we advocate for stricter manufacturing standards, mandatory recalls of hazardous products, and widespread public education to raise awareness of this hidden danger.
Families are urged to take proactive steps, such as replacing corded window coverings with cordless options or securing cords with safety devices. While legal battles continue, the ultimate goal remains to eliminate the risk posed by blind cords and ensure no family experiences the heartbreak of a preventable tragedy.
