The Make It Safe campaign has seen

• The BBSA taking a leading role in the development of the European-wide standards for window blinds specifically concerning child safety.

• The creation and promotion of a website, retail promotional materials and internationally recognized videos promoting safer window treatments.

• The provision of expert advice to regulators and those responsible for standard development, as well as assisting media and established safety organizations to appropriately promote safer window blinds.

• The insistence of early adoption of safety regulations by all of its membership.

The Make It Safe campaign is endorsed by The Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents (RoSPA) and the Child Accident Prevent Trust (CAPT) and referenced by many other organizations.

Under the General Product Safety Regulations the new standards place a legal responsibility on all suppliers and professional installers to:

• Provide safety devices to reduce the risk of any cords or chains which could create a hazardous loop

• Test all safety critical items of internal blinds

• Test blinds using safety devices

• Observe maximum cord and chain lengths

• Provide specific warnings and instructions

• Provide information on packaging and at point of sale

• Fit safety devices when professionally installing blinds

General safety advice

• If fitting blinds yourself, make sure that you follow the installation instructions carefully and make sure any safety devices supplied are correctly installed

• Do not place your child’s cot, bed, highchair or playpen near to a window blind

• Make sure all cords and chains are always secured out of reach of babies and young children

• Do not tie cords or chains together. Make sure cords or chains do not twist and create a loop

• Do not put other furniture near to a window blind as children love to climb.