Finding into death of Rosalind Smith

2y · Female·compression of the neck as a result of having become entangled in a blind cord

Rosalind Smith, a healthy 2-year-old, died from neck compression after becoming entangled in a Holland blind cord while attempting to look out a bedroom window. The cord was unsecured and hung at 870mm from the floor, accessible to a child standing on or near a bedside table. Although parents had assessed the home for safety, the hazard was not immediately apparent. The coroner emphasised that young children aged 18 months to 3 years are particularly vulnerable to strangulation from blind cords. While this was an accidental death with no medical mismanagement, the case highlights systemic failures in product safety regulation and public awareness. Regulatory changes implemented after this death now require safety mechanisms on new blinds, but retrofitting existing installations remains dependent on parental vigilance and public education campaigns.