Make The Right Choice: Kids, cords, and caution.
Children are innately curious about the world around them. So even basic household items like window fashions can turn into potential hazards.
Making window fashions safer for homes with infants, young children, and pets should always be a top priority. There is a wide range of products available to help significantly reduce the risk of accidents by eliminating potentially hazardous, free-hanging, or exposed operating cords. Older window coverings may not meet the latest national standard for window cord safety. If at all possible, use only non-corded window coverings in homes where infants and young children reside. If your home has corded window coverings and you can not replace them with today’s safer products, check them for the following hazards:
- Check that cord stops are properly installed and adjusted to limit the movement of inner lift cords — this is the most overlooked detail in window covering safety today
- Continuous-loop cords on draperies and vertical blinds should be permanently anchored to the floor or wall
- Keep all window cords well out of the reach of children by eliminating any dangling cords
- Make sure that tasseled pull cords are as short as possible
- Move all cribs, beds, furniture and toys away from windows and window cords, preferably to another wall
Learn how to retrofit older window coverings and order FREE retrofit kits at www.windowcoverings.org. This website contains a wealth of information on cord safety, overall child safety in the home, and full instructions on retrofitting your window coverings with the kit mentioned above. Directions for simple repairs of your existing window coverings can also be found at this site. Better yet, replace older corded window coverings with today’s safer products.
