BILL NUMBER: S4181

SPONSOR: SALAZAR
 
TITLE OF BILL:  An act to amend the public health law, in relation to
requiring that information be made available to parents regarding window
blind safety

 
PURPOSE OR GENERAL IDEA OF BILL:

This bill would require the information be made available to parents
regarding window blind safety and the potential fatal consequences from
strangulation posed by window blinds.

 
SUMMARY OF SPECIFIC PROVISIONS:

Section 1 provides for the production of a sufficient number of informa-
tional pamphlets to ensure that every pediatrician in the state will be
able to provide such pamphlet to parents during a child's six month
appointment.

Section 2 provides that the pamphlet referenced in section 1 will
              

include information regarding the danger, specifically the risk of
strangulation, posed by window blinds to children.

Section 3 provides the effective date.

 
JUSTIFICATION:

In recent years, there have been a number of tragic stories of young
children being strangled to death after becoming entangled in the chord-
sof window blinds. The federal Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC)
has estimated that, since 1982, there have been at least 200 children
that have died from strangulation associated with corded window
coverings. Those most at risk are children between the ages of 1 and 3
who have some mobility but are still unable to fully control their motor
functions.

According to the emergency department-treated injury data (NEISS), CPSC
estimates that from 1996 to 2012, children received treatment for 1,590
injuries resulting from entanglements on window covering cords. The ages
of the injured ranged from 14 months to eight years.  Based on the
deaths reported, 65% were 5-year-olds,and 35% were 3-year-olds. The
hospitalizations occurred among 1-year-olds (59%), 4-year-olds (38%, and
3-year-olds (3%).

When window cords are accessible to small children, these seemingly
harmless products may become strangulation hazards. This is especially
important with older window coverings that may not meet the latest
national standard for window cord safety. This legislation seeks to
educate parents by requiring that information be made available to
parents by pediatric primary care providers regarding window blind safe-
ty. Such information will include proper installation of blinds, exam-
ples of current national standards and the fatal consequences from
strangulation posed by window blinds.

 
PRIOR LEGISLATIVE HISTORY:

2015-2016 (A5804/S5466)
2017-2018 (A2914/S1868)
 
FISCAL IMPLICATIONS:

To be determined.

 
EFFECTIVE DATE:
This act shall take effect on the ninetieth day after it shall have
become law.