Corio mum’s plea for parents to be aware of strangulation risks around homes

A Corio mum is raising awareness of the strangulation risks household items can pose to children after losing her sister in a freak accident.

Corio mum Kandace Lane, with her daughter Gypsy, is raising awareness for the dangers of strangulation in the home after her sister Tahlee Rose Strachan, in photograph, died 21 years ago. Picture: Brad Fleet

A Corio mum hopes sharing the story of her late little sister can help raise awareness around the measures parents need to know to prevent children from being strangled by household items.

Kandace Lane was eight when her one-year-old sister Tahlee Strachan died at their family home in Lara in 2003.

Ms Lane said Tahlee was playing outside with her two-year-old brother when the toddler became stuck in a frayed towel drying on the line and asphyxiated.

“My stepdad performed CPR until the ambulance arrived,” Ms Lane said.

“I will never forget the screams or my nan telling me something was wrong with Tahlee and to get in the car now.

“I was supposed to grow up being a big sister.”

Tahlee Rose Strachan died of asphyxiation 21 years ago after she got stuck in a towel hanging on a clothesline. Picture: Brad Fleet

Tahlee’s mum Jan Cochrane said her heart never healed after Tahlee died.

“If only I hadn’t hung that load of towels out that day,” she said.

“My pain is not only mental but physical too, my whole body hurts when I think about Tahlee.

“To all toddler parents, be mindful of everything in and around the home, if I had my beautiful Tahlee would still be here.”

Ms Lane said having her own daughter drove her to speak out about her sister’s tragic death.

“I believe every parent should be aware of the dangers of having clothes hanging up around toddlers, even blind cords and amber teething necklaces,” she said.

“It took my sister 17 seconds to become unconscious in the towel and 40 seconds for her little heart to give up.

“I want to raise awareness because every parent should know and be aware of the strangulation risks of things in and around their homes.”

Kandace Lane hopes the story of her late sister Tahlee Rose Strachan will raise awareness of the dangers of strangulation in the home. Picture: Brad Fleet

A Kidsafe Victoria spokesman said choking or strangulation was the fourth most common cause of the 35 unintentional deaths of children aged up to 14 in 2023.

“At least 26 children were taken to hospital after blind or curtain cords wrapped around their necks between July 2010 and June 2020,” he said.

“Nationally, unsecured blind or curtain cords have caused the death of at least 21 young children since 2001.”

The spokesman said being aware of cords and ribbons on clothing, avoiding necklaces and avoiding chains or strings connected to dummies were ways parents could reduce strangulation risks.

He said to reduce the risk of curtain or blind strangulation, cords should be at least 1600mm above the floor and furniture should not be placed near a window where children could reach the blind or curtain cord.

“Secure any loose or looped cords with cleats or tension devices,” he said.

Originally published as Corio mum’s plea for parents to be aware of strangulation risks around homes