The family of a three-year-old boy who died after being strangled by a looped cord on a window blind have launched a campaign to have looped cords on curtains and blinds banned in the UK.

The Daily Mail reports that Harrison Joyce from Lichfield died while acting out scenes from the cartoon series 'Go Diego', during which he became tangled in the cord. His parents said their son had been left alone ‘for a matter of minutes’.

They have launched the campaign Harrison’s Law, which aims to have looped cords on curtains and blinds banned in the United Kingdom – the design is already illegal in the US, Canada and Australia.

A second child also died in similar circumstances five days after Harrison – 16-month-old Lillian Bagnall-Lambe from Stafford died when she became entangled in a looped cord in her home last Tuesday (09/02/10). The cords can strangle children and cut off their blood supply within seconds if the child accidentally gets their head entangled and struggles to release themselves. It is unlikely a child could be revived after such an accident.

Harrison's father, businessman Scott Joyce, 37, said:

'It makes me so angry that this has happened again. Harrison's legacy must be to have these cords banned and save thousands of lives. Parents must be made aware of this danger.’

A spokeswoman for the Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents, Jo Stagg, said that it was shocking that two children had died in similar accidents within days of each other.

'We need to get the message across to parents who can reduce the risk,’ said Ms Stagg. ‘They can tie knots in the cords or cut them up.’

'When they are at waist height for adults, children can slip into them – at floor level they can trip into them and become tangled; and there have been cases of cords dangling over cots, leaving children to become tangled as they sleep at night.’

Both deaths are being investigated by Staffordshire Police. Det Insp Vicky Roberts said:

‘It is vital that parents do all they can to make their properties as safe as possible for their young children.

‘We would urge them to go around their home looking at all potential risks and thinking about how to reduce the danger posed by what may, on the surface, appear to be innocuous items.’

The Staffordshire coroner Andrew Haigh also issued a warning to parents:

‘I am saddened to have these two deaths reported to me. In due course, I will be holding full inquests into the deaths – but I feel it is appropriate at this time that parents of young children are reminded of the potential danger of blind cords.’

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