Child Proofing Your Window Treatments
Keep Your Toddlers & Pets Safe
Child-Proof Your Window Treatments
By Jay Steinfeld, No Brainer Blinds and Shades
Want more safety info?
More than 140 children have died in the United States since 1981 by strangulation
from window treatment cords, according to the U.S. Consumer Product Safety
Commission (CPSC). It is easy to make today's window treatments safer for
young children with just a few simple adjustments, to prevent these tragic
accidents.
Cribs and furniture should not be placed near a window.
Even if
you have child guards on the windows, young children are tempted to investigate
cords dangling from window treatments. Since young children climb, never
put a chair or other object near a window with a dangling cord.
Keep all cords out of reach from small children and pets. Place the
cords on hooks (called cleats) to keep the cords from being in harm's way.
It is best not to wrap them around the cleat, as this causes the cords to
twist. Twisting causes the cords to get caught in the headrail, making the
shade difficult to keep straight along the bottom.
Eliminate loops on two-corded horizontal blinds.
Cut the cord
above the end tassel (the item that looks like a small wooden or plastic
thimble). Remove the equalizer buckle, then add new tassels for each
cord-or replace it with a safety break-away tassel. The CPSC urges
you NOT to retie the cords in a knot, as that will only recreate a new loop.
 |
 |
Eliminate cellular shade cord loops.
Cut the cord and place separate
tassels at the ends.
Keep continuous looping drapery cords anchored near the floor,
to keep the cords taut.
Only buy window blinds and shades that already have these safety features
built-in. If you already own some that do not, the simplest and quickest
solution is to use cord cleats.
Jay Steinfeld is the Founder/CEO of No Brainer Blinds and
Shades, the world's leading on-line source for window blinds, shades, and plantation shutters. It's where
buying window coverings REALLY IS a no-brainer.
Visit the No Brainer Blinds web site at
http://www.NoBrainerBlinds.com.
Email Jay at jay@NoBrainerBlinds.com or call toll free 1-888-4No-Brainer (1-888-466-2724).
Loading...
