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CHICAGO— Children’s injuries and deaths from window blinds have not stalled despite decades of safety concerns, according to a new U.S. study that recommends a complete ban on blinds with cords.
Nearly 17,000 young children were hurt by window blinds between 1990 and 2015, and though most injuries were minor, almost 300 died, the study shows. Most deaths occurred when children became entangled or strangled by the cords.
Injuries continued even after manufacturers adopted voluntary safety standards including warning labels. The industry now has a plan in the works to make cordless blinds the only option at retail stores and online.
The study “should be a huge wake-up call to the public, to the retailers, to the manufacturers and to parents all over the nation to really see how hazardous the cords on the blinds are,” said Linda Kaiser of St Louis. Her 1-year-old daughter died in 2002 from strangulation when she pulled a looped hidden cord from a blind and put it around her neck. Kaiser later formed the advocacy group Parents for Window Blind Safety.
While study’s data analysis doesn’t show an up or down trend in injuries and deaths, the fact that they’re still occurring shows that safety standards have been inadequate, said lead author, Dr. Gary Smith, who directs injuries research at Nationwide Children’s Hospital in Columbus, Ohio.
Paul Nathanson, spokesman for the Window Covering Manufacturers Associ-ation, said a soon-to-be adopted industry standard drafted with input from the Consumer Product Safety Comm-ission will make corded blinds unavailable in stores and online, although consumers could buy them through custom orders.
The safety commission says windows and window blinds are among the top five hidden hazards in U.S. homes and in a statement, it called the draft standard “a major step forward in protecting children.”
That standard is awaiting approval by the American National Standards Institute and is expected to take effect by late 2018, Nathanson said.
Smith said 20 percent are custom blinds and a total ban on corded blinds is needed.
The study was published Monday in the journal Pediatrics .
His research team analyzed 26 years of U.S. government data on emergency room treatment and fatal injuries. The study notes that the dangers have been addressed in medical journal articles as far back as a 1945 report on two accidental hangings in children who survived.
“Seventy years ago we recognized that this was a product that was killing kids,” Smith said. “We should put child safety first.”

The following are the radio dispatch logs from the Morgan City Police Department. To report unlawful or suspicious activity, call the police department at 985-380-4605.
Thursday, Dec. 7
5:35 a.m. 500 block of Railroad Avenue; Disturbance
8:40 a.m. 2400 block of Hemlock Street; Complaint
8:55 a.m. 1600 block of Glenmont Street; Complaint.
9:07 a.m. 700 block of Myrtle Street; Complaint.
9:23 a.m. 500 block of Roderick Street; Medical.
11:34 a.m. 2300 block of Clement Street; Medical.
11:37 a.m. 1100 block of Marguerite Street; Assistance.
12:39 p.m. 200 block of Terrebonne Street; Animal complaint.
1:55 p.m. 200 block of Brownell Homes; Crash.
2:08 p.m. 600 block of Shannon Street; Stand by.
3:44 p.m. 2400 block of Hemlock Street; Theft.
3:51 p.m. 400 block of First Street; Disturbance.
5:33 p.m. 900 block of Willard Street; Com-plaint.
6:03 p.m. 2500 block of Cypress Street; Animal complaint.
6:40 p.m. 100 block of Glenwood Street; Medical.
6:43 p.m. 7200 block of La. 182; Complaint.
7:16 p.m. 100 block of Roderick Street; Alarm.
7:40 p.m. 900 block of First Street; Complaint.
8:06 p.m. 1000 block of Fig Street; Theft.
8:12 p.m. 300 block of Louisa Street; Com-plaint.
11:48 p.m. 7500 block of La. 182; Arrest.
Friday, Dec. 8
1:39 a.m. 100 block of Roderick Street; Alarm.
2:52 a.m. 1400 block of Bernice Street; Crash.
6:57 a.m. U.S. 90 West; Crash.
6:57 a.m. U.S. 90 East; Crash.
7:13 a.m. Morgan City; Traffic.
7:36 a.m. 1300 block of Victor II Boulevard; Alarm.
9:19 a.m. La. 182 bridge; Crash.
9:35 a.m. 2300 block of Federal Avenue; Reckless driver.
10:41 a.m. 600 block of Louisa Street; Theft.
12:26 p.m. 700 block of Hilda Street; Disturbance.
12:32 p.m. Federal and Brashear avenues; Traffic.
12:43 p.m. 700 block of Hilda Street; Complaint.
1:44 p.m. 7400 block of La. 182; Criminal damage to property.
2:01 p.m. 700 block of Fifth Street; Disturbance.
6:13 p.m. 1300 block of Railroad Avenue; Vehicle accident.
6:20 p.m. 700 block of Myrtle Street; Com-plaint.
7:33 p.m. Chennault near Pecos streets; Suspicious person.
7:35 p.m. 1200 block of Victor II Boulevard; Suspicious person.
7:42 p.m. 700 block of Everett Street; Alarm.
7:59 p.m. 7800 block of La. 182 East; Vehicle accident.
10:22 p.m. 2400 block of Pecan Drive; Medical emergency.
11:05 p.m. 600 block of Louisa Street; Com-plaint.
11:16 p.m. 2200 block of Sixth Street; Disturbance.
Saturday, Dec. 9
12:09 a.m. 600 block of Louisa Street; Removal of a subject.
2:50 a.m. 700 block of Myrtle Street; Assistance.
8:56 a.m. 600 block of Sixth Street; Alarm.
9:09 a.m. 700 block of Hilda Street; Welfare concern.
9:45 a.m. 1900 block of Federal Avenue; Alarm.
10:25 a.m. 300 block of First Street; Alarm.
11:57 a.m. 1000 block of Marguerite Street; Alarm.
12:35 p.m. La. 182; Assistance.
12:47 p.m. 7000 block of La. 182; 911 hang up.
3:15 p.m. 7500 block of La. 182; Complaint.
4 p.m. 100 block of Wren Street; Complaint.
4:53 p.m. 1100 block of McDermott Drive; Disturbance.
5:03 p.m. 700 block of Myrtle Street; Assistance.
5:08 p.m. 600 block of Front Street; Disturbance.
6:03 p.m. Everett and Fifth streets; Complaint.
6:47 p.m. Eighth Street; Complaint.
8:47 p.m. 1200 block of Grizzaffi Street; Domestic disturbance.
8:48 p.m. 1100 block of Cypress Street; Missing juvenile.
11:24 p.m. Stephensville Road; Assistance.
11:42 p.m. Leona Street near Levee Road; Suspicious person.
Sunday, Dec. 10
12:02 a.m. 7700 block of La. 182 East; Suspicious vehicle.
1:37 a.m. 300 block of Second Street; Disturbance.
3:26 a.m. 200 block of Arizona Street; Civil complaint.
3:42 a.m. Railroad Avenue and Poncio Street; Suspicious vehicle.
4:21 a.m. 800 block of Brashear Avenue; Theft.
4:46 a.m. 7700 block of La. 182 East; Suspicious person.
12:45 p.m. 700 block of Belanger Street; Complaint.
1:06 p.m. 800 block of Ditch Avenue; Disturbance.
1:21 p.m. 700 block of Myrtle Street; Medical.
2 p.m. 300 block of Egle Street; Suspicious subject.
4:29 p.m. 700 block of Myrtle Street; Arrest.
8:30 p.m. 7700 block of La. 182 East; Fight.
11:28 p.m. 300 block of Wren Street; Complaint,
11:23 p.m. 1500 block of Nevada Street; Medical emergency.
Monday, Dec. 11
2:20 a.m. 300 block of Greenwood Street; Alarm.
3:26 a.m. Greenwood Street; Suspicious per-son.

BATON ROUGE — Louisiana’s state government officials are joining the rest of the nation in a public soul-searching about sexual misconduct policies and the hostile work environments that people can encounter.

The catalyst for a widespread state government review is a sexual harassment allegation lodged against a former top aide to Gov. John Bel Edwards.

At least three studies of state agency policies regarding sexual harassment are planned, and it appears the topic could become the subject of legislation in the spring.

Publicly, state officials present a united front, saying no one should face harassment in the workplace and sexual misconduct won’t be tolerated. But the review of how complaints are handled and discipline is determined likely will raise uncomfortable questions about how to fact-check accusations, who determines appropriate punishment and whether the policies make people feel safe to report inappropriate behavior.

Policies prohibiting sexual harassment appear to be required across state government.

In 2012, state lawmakers passed legislation by Sen. Dale Erdey, a Livingston Republican, that directed each agency to provide a “minimum of one hour of education and training on sexual harassment during each year” to public employees and officials. State agencies were required to keep records of compliance.

The civil service department said it developed a training program in response to the legislation and allows other agencies to use it. But departments police their own staff to make sure employees are meeting the educational requirement, and it’s unclear if agencies have uniform standards in handling misconduct allegations.

In Edwards’ office, Johnny Anderson left his job as the Democratic governor’s deputy chief of staff for programs and planning last month, after he was accused of sexual harassment. No specific claim has been released publicly. Anderson denies wrongdoing, but said he resigned to avoid becoming a “distraction.”

Anderson previously had been accused of sexual harassment when he worked as assistant chief of staff for Gov. Kathleen Blanco and was chairman of the Southern University System Board of Supervisors. Anderson maintained his innocence in 2006, and Blanco kept him on staff.

This time, Edwards responded with an internal investigation and an executive order creating a seven-member study group to review Louisiana’s policies for handling sexual misconduct claims. The study group owes its recommendations and findings to Edwards by March 1.

“Every person, whether they work in state government or private industry, should be able to do their jobs without fear of being sexually harassed or discriminated against,” Edwards said in a statement.

Louisiana’s legislative auditor, Daryl Purpera, is doing a similar review, a performance audit requested by Sen. Sharon Hewitt. The Republican lawmaker from Slidell requested a comparison of Louisiana’s policies for handling allegations to those of other states and a tally of how much Louisiana agencies spent on sexual-harassment settlements over the past five years.

While any money spent on such claims across state government remains to be calculated, the House and Senate say they’ve got no records showing public tax dollars have ever been spent on sexual harassment settlements, in response to public records requests filed by the AP.

First Assistant Senate Secretary Yolanda Dixon said records show two sexual harassment complaints have been formally filed with the Senate human resources office, one in 2008 and the other in 2013.

Neither complaint involved a senator, she said.

House Clerk Alfred “Butch” Speer said “less than a handful” of formal complaints have been filed since the House enacted an explicit policy prohibiting sexual harassment “well over 10 years” ago. In the past five years, four sexual harassment complaints have been filed, Speer said, two by House employees alleging sexual harassment by lawmakers.

Neither chamber released the names of those involved, citing employee confidentiality.

Members of the Legislative Women’s Caucus intend to dig into House and Senate policies regarding sexual harassment, with a hearing planned on the topic.

“It’s important to examine our current policies to ensure best practices are in place to provide a comfortable working environment in the Legislature,” Rep. Helena Moreno, a New Orleans Democrat who chairs the women’s caucus, said in a statement.

Melinda Deslatte has covered Louisiana politics for The Associated Press since 2000. Follow her at http://twitter.com/melindadeslatte