Parents are being reminded about the dangers of window blind cords, which pose a ‘particular risk of accidental strangulation' to young children.

According to doctors in the UK, children aged between 16 and 36 months appear to be particularly vulnerable.

Since 2005, five young children have died in Ireland after being accidentally strangled by blind cords, while in the UK, an estimated one or two children die every year. However, the doctors believe ‘there are probably many more under-reported near misses'.

They made their comments in the journal, Archives of Disease in Childhood, after treating a 22-month-old boy who had been found hanging on the pull chain of a blind cord.

His mother had left him with his sister in a bedroom for a few minutes, but on her return, she found him hanging from the chain. He was blue and not breathing and had strangulation marks on his neck.

He was discharged from hospital after one night, however the doctors emphasised that he was one of the lucky ones.

They warned that children between the ages of 16 and 36 months appear particularly vulnerable because at this age, their heads are relatively big compared with the rest of their bodies. Their windpipes are also softer and they are often unable to untangle themselves because they have not developed full muscle control.

"It is imperative that parents are educated about the hazards of window blind cords and appropriate safety devices are installed in homes with young children," the doctors said.

According to windowblindsafety.ie, an Irish website set up in dedication to two-and-a-half year old Arran Malley, who died in 2009 after being strangled in an unsecured blind cord, the main way to avoid an accident is to keep blind cords out of the reach of children.

Other safety measures include:
-Ensuring all cords and chains are at least 5 feet off the ground
-Loops are particularly hazardous. While safety standards state that large loops should not be permitted, older blinds may still have these. Loops should be cut and never tie cords together as this creates another potentially hazardous loop
-Fit a safety devices to all cord and chain operated blinds
-Make sure to refit all safety devices after decorating.