Cords on clothing ‘can be deadly’

ONE-in-10 items of children’s clothing with long cords or drawstrings are potentially dangerous, an EU survey has found.

Every year children die or are seriously injured when cords, belts and ribbons get caught up in things like playground slides, bus doors and in the spokes of bicycle wheels. Strangulation is one of the main causes of accidental child deaths in Europe, some of it caused by clothing. Serious injuries, especially to eyes, are caused by elasticated cords that snap back when caught. The survey of thousands of pieces of children’s clothing in 10 EU countries, including Ireland, with cord and drawstrings, found that many are dangerous – breaching EU safety rules.

In Denmark, almost all those inspected were unsafe while in Ireland just 3% did not comply with the rules.

But Caroline Curneen of the European Consumer Centre in Ireland said nobody should be complacent.

“We tested just a relatively small sample and everyday clothing comes into the country from all over the world, so parents and people buying for children have to be vigilant.”

The rules are:

* No cords or drawstrings in the hood and neck area for children up to the age of seven;

* Aged seven to 14 years, no more than 7.5 cm of free cord;

* Cords in the chest and waist area no more than 14 cm free;

* Front tying belts and sashes no more than 36 cm fee when untied.

Despite the dangers, clothes for babies and young children were more likely to break the rules than those for older children, with 70% of them being non-compliant.

The types of accidents caused fall into two categories, according to European Commissioner for Health and Consumer policy, John Dalli.

The first is where cords in clothes worn by younger children become trapped in playground equipment such as slides and cause death; and the second is where cords and string from the waists and hems of clothing are caught in bus doors, ski lifts and bicycles, causing them to be dragged along or run over by the vehicle.

“Parents must be aware of the dangers and businesses must remember they are responsible for the safety of what they are selling,” said Mr Dalli.