THEBACHA/FORT SMITH - The NWT Coroner's Office has made a recommendation to improve safety in Fort Smith homes as the result of a toddler's tragic death last year.

In the late February report, the Coroner's Office recommended the Fort Smith Health and Social Services Authority, during its various home visit programs, consider reinforcing with families the importance of completing a "thorough environmental scan" on the safety of homes.

The recommendation is contained in a coroner's report into the accidental hanging death of two-year-old Emma Rose Evans on April 12, 2010.

According to the report, the child was put in a bedroom for an afternoon nap at approximately 2 p.m. by her father. She slept on a bed/mattress situated on the floor against a bedroom wall.

At about 5 p.m., the father checked on the child and found her "partially suspended" from a blanket that was being used as a curtain, the report stated. "There was a hole in the blanket near the bottom edge that was closest to the ground where she was able to place her head through and then became entangled in the blanket."

The child was not breathing and resuscitation attempts were unsuccessful.

An investigation by the RCMP and the Coroner's Officer found there was no indication of foul play.

The coroner's report was written by Steven Shelton, the lay coroner in Fort Smith, in conjunction with the NWT Coroner's Office.

Accidental hangings of children in the NWT are "very rare," said Cathy Menard, the chief coroner for the NWT. "I can only think of one other case in the years that I have been here, which is over 15."

Menard said the other hanging did not involve a curtain.

Recommendations by the Coroner's Office are not legally binding.

"They are what they are, just recommendations," Menard said. "We've asked Fort Smith Health and Social Services Authority to consider reinforcing with families during home programs because I'm sure they have many home visit programs."

Families themselves could also look through the eyes of a toddler for possible dangers, said the chief coroner. "We would say to parents please look around your own homes for any hazard that may cause harm to your child."

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