New rules are now in place to protect children from one of the most preventable household hazards – unsecured curtain and blind cords.
Kidsafe Victoria said that since 2001, at least 21 Australian children had died after becoming entangled in curtains or blind cords.
Young children, particularly those under the age of five, are at highest risk because cords can form a loop around their neck, causing strangulation.
Incidents often happen silently and within seconds.
From 1 December 2025, all corded internal window coverings in residential rental properties must have an anchor installed to secure or tension the cords, preventing them from forming a loose loop.
A coroner recommended the safety regulation update following the tragic death of 3-year-old Lincoln in 2020, who became entangled in a blind cord in a Melbourne rental property.
To help tenants and landlords, free safety kits to secure curtain and blind cords are available to Victorian households across the state.
The initiative aims to address a significant safety gap: renters often cannot make permanent alterations to properties without landlord approval, leaving cords unsecured.
Making these kits widely available means reaching households who may not even be aware of the hazard, let alone have the time, money, or ability to source and install them.
For many families, especially those juggling work, childcare, and tight budgets, safety upgrades can slip down the priority list because they are not visible risks until tragedy strikes.
Kidsafe Victoria CEO Sarah Sexton said curtain and blind cord strangulation was 100 percent preventable.
“These safety attachments take minutes to install, cost very little, and could mean the difference between life and death for a child,” she said.
“Being able to access these for free removes the barriers of cost and access.”
Kidsafe Victoria recommends:
Check all rooms in your house for any blinds or curtains with long cords that are either loose or looped. This includes any cords that are within children’s reach at floor level or near furniture they can climb on;
Secure any loose or looped cords with curtain and blind cord safety kits, which can be ordered from the Consumer Affairs Victoria website free of charge or purchased at your local hardware store;
Do not put furniture such as cots, beds, highchairs, playpens, couches, chairs, tables, or bookshelves near a window where children can reach the blind or curtain cord; and
When installing new blinds and curtains, make sure you or the installer secures any loose or looped cords immediately.
Kidsafe Victoria is calling for all Victorians – homeowners, landlords, tenants and property managers – to take immediate action to secure curtain and blind cords, and to support initiatives that remove barriers for those most at risk.
