PFD report

Sophie Allen · Prevention of Future Deaths report

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Issued 5 Jun 2014•Sunderland

Report record

Published report and response evidence

This page connects the concerns raised in this report with statements found in recipients’ published responses. A link shows a clear evidence connection; it does not assign responsibility.

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Concerns
2

Raised in this report

Recipients
1

Named on the report

Responses found
1

Of 1 recipient

Stated actions
1

Described in responses

Recipients and published responses

Source document

Full report text

This is the full text from the original published report.

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Concerns and recipient responses

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Concerns raised2

  1. Insufficient public awareness of blind-cord risks among infants, grandparents and carers
    Part of recurring concern: Inadequate warnings and awareness of blind-cord strangulation risks
  2. Existing blind cords posing a risk of death to children
    Part of recurring concern: Failure to control blind-cord strangulation risks in residential properties
Responses linked to these concerns

Each statement is shown once, even when linked to more than one concern.

Actions described in response An action is something a recipient says it has done, is doing, or plans to do in response to a concern raised.1

  1. Action

    Continue supporting partner-led blind-cord safety awareness campaigns through funding and collaboration.

    Stated by Department for Business, Innovation & SkillsStated in progressThe respondent said that this action was in progress when they made their response on 5 June 2014.

Respondent positions A position is what a recipient says about a concern when it does not describe a specific action.2

  1. Position

    Preventive delivery is led by the BBSA and RoSPA through partnerships and networks rather than undertaken solely by government.

    Stated by Department for Business, Innovation & SkillsRedirects responsibilityThe respondent said that another organisation was responsible for deciding or taking action.

Source evidence

How this individual concern was interpreted

PFD Monitor created a concise, searchable interpretation from the report wording shown below. Response links show a clear evidence connection; they do not assign responsibility.

PFD Monitor interpretation

Insufficient public awareness of blind-cord risks among infants, grandparents and carers

Wider context from the report

“Sophie's death was yet another example of the dangers that blind cords pose to the lives of young children. I understand that since 1999 there have been 28 such deaths in the UK due to looped cords (15 of them since 2010). I am aware that following reports from Coroners and other representations the new EN13120 released in February 2014 strengthened the child safety elements of the standard and that your Department continues to actively support safety campaigns which would include the distribution of leaflets and the provision of cleats and cord shorten. Sadly and despite these efforts public awareness and the need to act promptly to eliminate the risks associated with blind cords not only needs to continue but perhaps should be extended to cover a greater element of the population including infants, grandparents and carers. Although the new standard applies to new installations there will be millions of blind cords already fitted in homes occupied (or visited by children) that pose a very real risk of death as in Sophie's case. It may be that Sophie's family may also write to you. ”

Is this part of a recurring concern?

Yes — Inadequate warnings and awareness of blind-cord strangulation risks.

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Source evidence

How this individual concern was interpreted

PFD Monitor created a concise, searchable interpretation from the report wording shown below. Response links show a clear evidence connection; they do not assign responsibility.

PFD Monitor interpretation

Existing blind cords posing a risk of death to children

Wider context from the report

“Sophie's death was yet another example of the dangers that blind cords pose to the lives of young children. I understand that since 1999 there have been 28 such deaths in the UK due to looped cords (15 of them since 2010). I am aware that following reports from Coroners and other representations the new EN13120 released in February 2014 strengthened the child safety elements of the standard and that your Department continues to actively support safety campaigns which would include the distribution of leaflets and the provision of cleats and cord shorten. Sadly and despite these efforts public awareness and the need to act promptly to eliminate the risks associated with blind cords not only needs to continue but perhaps should be extended to cover a greater element of the population including infants, grandparents and carers. Although the new standard applies to new installations there will be millions of blind cords already fitted in homes occupied (or visited by children) that pose a very real risk of death as in Sophie's case. It may be that Sophie's family may also write to you. ”

Is this part of a recurring concern?

Yes — Failure to control blind-cord strangulation risks in residential properties.

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Source evidence

How this respondent action was interpreted

PFD Monitor created a concise, searchable interpretation from the published response wording shown below.

PFD Monitor interpretation

Continue supporting partner-led blind-cord safety awareness campaigns through funding and collaboration.

Verbatim wording from the response

“BIS supports the BBSA’s “Make It Safe Campaign” which is run primarily with RoSPA through widespread distribution of the Make It Safe brochure, press releases, TV and radio programmes and interviews and use of social networking. Since 2011 the BBSA has produced and distributed 1.6 million Make It Safe leaflets (many through RoSPA). They have also produced a video, poster, vehicle and shop window stickers – more information can be found on their website http://www.makeitsafe.org.uk/ The leaflet has gone to every local authority in Wales and to the main children’s organisations (statutory and NGOs).”

Source location

2014-0256-Response
Page 1 · response
Published 5 June 2014

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Source evidence

How this respondent position was interpreted

PFD Monitor created a concise, searchable interpretation from the published response wording shown below.

PFD Monitor interpretation

Preventive delivery is led by the BBSA and RoSPA through partnerships and networks rather than undertaken solely by government.

Verbatim wording from the response

“However, I believe there is an already established and effective network of partners who are well placed to take preventative action forward, led by the British Blind and Shutters Association (BBSA) and the Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents (ROSPA). Below I outline some of the campaigns planned or already underway.”

Source location

2014-0256-Response
Page 1 · response
Published 5 June 2014

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Source evidence

How this respondent position was interpreted

PFD Monitor created a concise, searchable interpretation from the published response wording shown below.

PFD Monitor interpretation

Established partner campaigns and networks are considered an effective response to increasing awareness of blind-cord safety risks.

Verbatim wording from the response

“However, I believe there is an already established and effective network of partners who are well placed to take preventative action forward, led by the British Blind and Shutters Association (BBSA) and the Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents (ROSPA). Below I outline some of the campaigns planned or already underway.”

Source location

2014-0256-Response
Page 1 · response
Published 5 June 2014

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Information checked against the published report and official responses · Data reviewed 7 Sep 2026 · About data quality and limitations

Data last updated 7 September 2026