Most people associate October with crisp weather, leaves changing color and Halloween. It is a safe bet that when many Americans hear “October” their minds don’t immediately think of how safe their windows and window coverings are. However, while the month of October is indeed better known for ghosts, ghouls, candies and costumes, it is also a month long acknowledgment of the dangers window coverings can cause for young children across the country.
October is National Window Covering Safety Month, a month long campaign by the Window Covering Safety Council to remind parents and homeowners the potential strangulation hazards that window cords can pose to young children and toddlers.
According to the Window Covering Safety Council, window coverings are one of the top five hidden hazards in your home and information provided by the CPSC states that since 1990 more than 200 infants and young children have passed away as a direct result of becoming entangled in window cords. But while window coverings may be one of the top dangers in your home, they are actually one of the easiest to remedy.
While also offering free retrofit kits and window-cord safety information, the Window Covering Safety Council encourages parents and homeowners to follow these basic window 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 adjusted to be as short as possible.
• Continuous-loop pull cords on draperies and vertical blinds should be pulled tight and anchored to the floor or wall with a tension device.
• Be sure cord stops are properly installed and adjusted to limit movement on inner cords on blinds and shades.
Innovative Openings is proud to do our part in promoting window covering safety in Colorado by offering several cordless window treatment options that will fit any style of home. We want to do our part to promote the necessity of making sure your windows are safe for young children and to make the dangers of window cords a thing of the past!
For more information on Window Covering Safety Month and window safety, please check the Window Covering Safety Council website and Insolroll’s child safety solutions page.