The cords used for window blinds can be a strangulation danger for children and when a child is in serious trouble, they cannot call out for help.

Mother of three Jennifer Esckilsen says that "The string that hangs down on the blinds, I'd always take it and tie it up higher cause I had heard that it could strangle them."

Pediatrician Eric Jones says that the dangling cords found on several types of window blinds can prove irresistible to infants and toddlers. "Well, they move so it's easy to bat them, and that's one of the first things that kids learn to do is to bat things. The problem is it's very, very easy to get something like that wrapped around your neck. Especially with the bigger window blinds that have 2 or 3 cords to them that are usually tied at the bottom so you have a loop."

If you ever find a child struggling with a cord around their neck, Dr Jones says you must step into action. "Immediately you want to relieve the tension, ok so you pick them up. And make sure they're getting a little bit of relief of the tension of the cord. And then after you calm them down you want to unwrap them the best you can."

Dr. Jones explains that they seem innocent enough but the fact is children from 6 months to 12 years old have died due to strangulation from unsafe window cords. So if you happen to have them in your home, be sure you know how to make them safe. "They're knobs basically, you cut all the cords so that there's no loop and you put an end of the cords, so it's much easier to get untangled and to keep from getting wrapped around their neck. Wrap the cord up and keep it from dangling into the child's reach. That's the most important thing."

Most of the cases that involved injury or death with blind cords were with children whose beds or playpens were placed directly below a window.

Window blinds sold after 1995 no longer have cords that end in loops. If your blinds were purchased before 95 you can call the window covering safety council at 1-800-506-4636, they have free kits to repair older blinds.