Toddler died after hanging himself on cord of window blind

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Thirteen-month-old Johnny Doran was pronounced dead at the John Radcliffe Hospital Photo: ITV Meridian

 

A toddler died by accidentally hanging himself on the cord of a window blind in his parents’ bedroom, an inquest heard.

Thirteen-month-old Johnny Doran was found suspended above the ground next to the window by his father Martin, 35, when he walked into the room.

The father-of-five, from Bampton, tried to resuscitate his son before ambulance crews arrived and took him to hospital in February.

The toddler never regained consciousness and was pronounced dead shortly before 10pm at John Radcliffe Hospital in Oxford.

Martin and Anne Doran lost another son, Martin Jr, to sudden infant death syndrome at their family home in November 2011.

On the evening of the latest tragedy, ground-worker Mr Doran had picked up his eldest son Jimmy, 13, from a boxing session, returning home just before 9pm.

His wife Anne and their two other children Larry, 11, and Margaret, nine, were watching TV in another room of the family bungalow in Weald Street.

Mrs Doran, a housewife, said she had sent her daughter to check on Johnny earlier in the evening and that he was fine.

The inquest heard that Mr Doran used the toilet by the back door before walking into the bedroom – which he shared with his youngest son – to put his coat away.

A statement by Mr Doran read: “I saw Johnny standing next to the window.

“He looked like he was leaning over.

“I knew something was wrong, he was not moving – he was limp.”

He then called the ambulance from his son Jimmy’s phone and gave his youngest son CPR.

Coroner Darren Salter said it was a “tragic accident” and described the boy’s death as “extremely sad and depressing”.

Mr Salter also encouraged homeowners to ensure their blinds met new legislation – as the Dorans’ set did not.

Detective Superintendent Andrew Ryan said that police investigations with trading standards found no wrong-doing on behalf of the blind company that now no longer trades.

The new rules state that blind cords – made after February last year – must either be fixed to the wall or have a snap-mechanism when more than 4kg is applied.

Mr Salter recorded a verdict of accidental death.

http://www.itv.com/news/meridian/2015-09-16/toddler-died-after-hanging-himself-on-cord-of-window-blind/

Window Covering Can Help Cut Your Energy Costs

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SAN DIEGO, CA–(Marketwired – Sep 11, 2015) –  Are you concerned about your carbon footprint? Or maybe you are just concerned about how high your utility bills have been because of the recent heat wave in Southern California.

Recent studies demonstrate that up to 40% of our energy costs are spent on heating and cooling the home. Unfortunately a lot of this money is simply going out the window. Window coverings may help you lower your carbon foot print and your monthly utility bill.

For many homeowners, the goal of window coverings is for blocking light and finishing a room. Today you also have very attractive choices in window blinds and shutters that act as insulation for your home. Today’s window covering can actually trap air between the glass and the window covering keeping the air conditioned or heated air in the home.

Glass is a conductor of heat and cold and with today’s home designs and downtown condo’s windows are used extensively. Ever touch a glass of hot water or cold water the temperature goes right through the glass, the same is happening with your home.

There is an easy solution to this and the solution is very affordable in comparison to E-Glass. Not all window coverings are the same when it comes to energy efficiency. Aluminum blinds and Vertical blinds offer the least insulation since they have gaps that impair the coverage of the windows. Window shutters are much better but still have some gaps but are one of the better choices. Cellular shades we recommend as the cells are designed to trap air and when custom designed sit very flush in the window frame.

Combining cellular shades with window curtains will give you the best energy- efficiency. Curtains that are designed correctly with pelmets prevent air from escaping upwards into a room and a total block out lining prevents air from escaping.

Today’s homes are designed to be more energy efficient from appliances to solar panels but many times the window coverings are overlooked. San Diego Window Fashions is San Diego’s most trusted name for affordable window coverings and blinds. With over a decade of experience in the window covering industry we off all the top brands at affordable prices.

 

http://www.power-eng.com/marketwired/2015/09/11/window-covering-can-help-cut-your-energy-costs.html

Sustainable Faber Blinds products feature in new landmark project

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Faber Blinds is helping to inspire the next generation of landscape professionals and raise awareness of green infrastructure at the RHS Hyde Hall’s new Learning Centre.

The company, part of the Hunter Douglas Group, has supplied solar shading solutions for the £3m new facility. The project is a beacon of sustainability for the construction industry and the significant environmental credentials of the Hunter Douglas product portfolio were instrumental in seeing the Faber system specified.

Part of a multi-million pound investment across a number of the Royal Horticultural Society’s sites in the UK, the centre  will help children to develop their understanding and experience of growing fruit & vegetables, cooking them and generally create an environment for learning. It will significantly improve the visitor experience for adults and enable the RHS to share and build expert knowledge by raising the levels of standards, accessibility and interpretation.

Faber’s 1800 FTS system has been utilised at the visitor centre. “The specialist high tension 5100 series fabric provides an excellent solar shading solution and has had a very direct cost and saving benefit,” explains Mike Foulston, Contracts Manager at Faber Blinds.

“We fitted the shades over the tills and fresh produce area to reduce spoilt goods and enhance customer and operator satisfaction.”

Faber 1800 FTS is an efficient and flexible internal motorised blind system that can be used in pitched or horizontal roof light windows.

The hardware of the blind can be fully enclosed in a square head box and there is a choice of various side channels to suit all applications. The system is especially suitable for installation in a concealed recess or above a ceiling when provision is made for this at the design stage of a project, so that the blind can be fitted in such a way that it is only visible when lowered.

Faber 1800 FTS can be used for both large and small windows, but the system has been specifically designed for large areas of glazing with each blind capable of covering an area up to 4000 x 6000 mm.

Located in the Hilltop Garden on the site of the existing grain barn, the Learning Centre is composed of two flexible classrooms, with a demonstration kitchen in each and an exemplar teaching garden. The rooms will be suitable for a range of groups and ages, including multiple school classes, adult learning courses and public lectures.

“The design is organised around a well-proportioned courtyard to help align the new Learning Centre with the existing buildings on the site,” explained a spokesman for architects Cullinan Studio.

“The exciting roof-form responds to the climate and support sustainability by providing protection, collecting rainwater, supporting solar panels, controlling daylight and fresh air.”

Faber Blinds, part of the Hunter Douglas group, is internationally recognised for fabricating outstanding solar shading solutions for commercial premises. It offers a wide range of products supplying both internal and external blinds, as well as awnings and brise soleil.

For almost 50 years, Hunter Douglas products have contributed to the sustainable thermal, acoustic and visual appeal of buildings across a wide range of branches and sectors, from trade to industry and from the catering business to government. These products consistently meet the needs of architects, designers and contractors, thanks to Hunter Douglas’ intensive collaboration with these parties. – See more at: http://specificationonline.co.uk/news-article/8957/hunter-douglas-sustainable-faber-blinds-products-feature-in-new-landmark-project#sthash.zq8JHBXH.dpuf