Most of our blogs are fun and informative; this particular topic is regarding a very serious safety issue. How safe are your windows? Corded window coverings are one of the top five hidden hazards in American homes. Infants and children die each year from accidentally strangling in window cords. Some of these incidents involve older products that are still in use but don’t have the safety devices or designs instituted in the past decade.
October is Window Covering Safety Month dedicated to educating home owners about window safety. The Window Covering Safety Council (WCSC) is urging parents to check their window coverings for exposed or dangling cords and to replace them with safer products. The WCSC recommends that only cordless window coverings be used in homes with small children. An alternative to cordless window coverings is to choose an inaccessible cord design.
The Window Covering Safety Council encourages parents and caregivers to follow these basic cord-safety precautions:
- Move all furniture, cribs, beds and climbable surfaces away from windows.
- Keep all window cords well out of the reach of children.
- Install only cordless window coverings in homes with young children.
- Make sure tasseled pull cords are as short as possible. Continuous-loop pull cords on draperies and vertical blinds should be pulled tight and anchored to the floor or wall.
- Be sure cord stops are properly installed and adjusted to limit inner-cord movement.
To learn more about window covering safety contact Anna Ione Interiors and speak to a window covering stylist. We can assist you in finding the safest cordless design options for your home. In our next blog we will give you a list of the top safest window coverings for children and pet safety. Stay tuned!