22 Jan How to Keep Kids Safe – Window Coverings

How to Keep Kids Safe – Window Coverings

Once we have kids in our homes, we become aware of all types of potential hazards that we overlooked before.  From anchoring furniture to walls to locking up cleaning supplies, we try to make our homes as safe as possible for the little ones running around.  While you’re making your house kid-safe, be sure to look at window coverings.  According to the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission, about one child a month dies from window cord strangulation.  Window cords are one of the top hidden hazards in many homes.  Here are a few tips to keep your kids safer around window coverings.

Use cordless window coverings in children’s rooms.  

Children spend most of their unsupervised time in their bedrooms, so this is where we must be the most cautious.  Completely cordless window coverings, such as shutters, are safest in their bedrooms and throughout the house.  If you prefer corded styles, replacing blinds, corded shades, and draperies manufactured before 2001 with newer products will ensure that your window coverings meet the most current safety standards.

Keep the window area clear.  

If at all possible, try to keep cribs, beds, toys, and other furniture off the wall that has the window.  Children are more likely to become entangled in the window coverings if they sleep or play near them.  Keeping furniture away from windows also reduces the risk of a child falling through an open window or being cut by broken glass in the case of the window breaking during a natural disaster.

Keep dangling cords out of the reach of children.

For window treatments that have pull cords and inner lift cords, make sure that the cords are well out of the child’s reach.  Securing the cords with a cord cleat will keep them neatly out of the way.  Window coverings that have a continuous loop must be permanently anchored to the floor or wall, to reduce the risk of a child becoming entangled in them.

Install cord stops.

 On older models of blinds and shades, installing cord stops will restrict how far internal ladder cords can be pulled from the window covering.  Newer models already have these safeguards in place.

Eliminate looped pull cords.

Mini blinds and pleated shades manufactured in 1995 or earlier will most likely have a looped pull cord.  The entanglement risk from these can be significantly reduced by cutting the looped cords, removing the tassel and equalizer buckle, and installing tassels on each end of the newly separated cords.

Talk about safety when you purchase new window coverings.  

When you’re out shopping, let your sales professional know that you have young children in your home and that you want to make sure that your window coverings are as safe as possible.  They will be able to show you a wide range of options and explain the safest way to use each option.

Home safety is important, particularly if you have kids.  Taking the time to learn about and minimize potential home hazards will give you comfort and peace of mind.