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Ensuring Safety and Peace of Mind: Blinds and Child & Pet Safety

Written by tnwebtech on February 13, 2024. Posted in Child Safety. 33 Comments on Ensuring Safety and Peace of Mind: Blinds and Child & Pet Safety

As guardians of our homes, ensuring the safety and well-being of our loved ones, including children and pets, is paramount. With window blinds being a common feature in Atlanta homes, it’s crucial to recognize the potential hazards they pose to curious little ones and furry companions. In this comprehensive guide, we’ll explore the importance of blinds and window treatments safety, along with practical tips and solutions to safeguard children and pets from accidents and injuries.

Understanding the Risks:

Window blinds, particularly those with cords, present various hazards to children and pets:

Strangulation Hazard: Looping cords, chains, or strings can pose a strangulation risk if children or pets become entangled in them.
Choking Hazard: Small parts or components of blinds, such as cords, beads, or tassels, may detach and pose a choking risk if ingested.
Climbing Hazard: Children and pets may attempt to climb or play with blinds, leading to falls or accidents if the blinds are not securely anchored or corded properly.

Given these risks, it’s essential for parents and pet owners to take proactive measures to ensure the safety of their little ones and furry friends around window blinds.

Practical Tips for Blinds and Window Treatments Safety:

1. Choose Cordless Options:
  - Opt for cordless blinds or window treatments whenever possible, as they eliminate the risk of entanglement and strangulation.
  - Cordless options include motorized blinds, wand-operated blinds, and cordless lift systems, providing both convenience and safety for households with children and pets.
2. Keep Cords Out of Reach:
  - If corded blinds are unavoidable, ensure that cords are kept out of reach of children and pets by using cord cleats, tensioners, or cord shorteners.
  - Secure cords to the wall or window frame using cord cleats or anchors, keeping them taut and inaccessible to curious hands or paws.
3. Shorten Excess Cords:
  - If cords are present, ensure that they are properly secured and shortened to reduce the risk of entanglement.
  - Use cord wind-ups or ties to bundle and secure excess cord length, keeping them out of reach and minimizing the risk of accidents.
4. Regularly Inspect Blinds:
  - Conduct regular inspections of blinds and window treatments to check for any signs of wear, damage, or loose components.
  - Replace or repair damaged blinds promptly to prevent accidents and ensure continued safety for children and pets.
5. Anchor Bottom Chains or Cords:
  - Anchor bottom chains or cords of blinds to the window frame or floor using tensioners or cord anchors to prevent them from becoming a hazard.
  - Keep cords taut and securely anchored to minimize the risk of entanglement or tripping.
6. Educate and Supervise:
  - Educate children about the dangers of playing with blinds and window treatments, emphasizing the importance of safety and caution around them.
  - Supervise young children and pets around blinds, particularly during times when they may be more prone to curiosity or exploration.
7. Consider Alternative Window Treatments:
  - Explore alternative window treatment options that prioritize safety, such as cordless shades, roller blinds, or shutters, which offer both functionality and peace of mind.
  - Consult with window treatment professionals to identify safe and suitable options for your home and lifestyle.

Blinds and window treatments are essential features of our homes, providing privacy, light control, and aesthetic appeal. However, it’s crucial to recognize and address the potential hazards they pose to children and pets. By prioritizing blinds and window treatments safety and implementing practical measures such as choosing cordless options, keeping cords out of reach, and regularly inspecting blinds for damage, we can create safer environments for our loved ones to thrive in. Together, let’s ensure the safety and well-being of our children and pets around blinds, fostering peace of mind and a sense of security within our homes. If you’re in the Atlanta area, Peachtree Blinds of Atlanta can help you choose the perfect window treatment to complement your home while also ensuring the safety of children and pets.

Photos:
Cat in blinds photo by Helena Jankovičová Kováčová
Dog looking through blinds by jotoya from Pixabay

What You Need To Know About Window Coverings & Child Safety

According to the US Consumer Products Safety Commission (CPSC), a child between the ages of 7 months and 10 years old dies each month from window cord strangulation. Additional children suffer from the injuries of near strangulation.

How Safe Are Your Window Treatments?

Ways strangulation can occur:

Place their heads through a dangling cord loop.
Wrap a single long pull cord around their neck.
Pull out and play with the inner cords of the window blind.

Child Safety Above All

The window covering industry has worked closely with the Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC), industry stakeholders and others to develop strong voluntary corded window covering safety standards to mitigate risk and protect consumers. In fact, the current U.S. safety standard is recognized as the most stringent in the world.
The window covering industry, federal officials and Peachtree Blinds of Atlanta all agree that only cordless window coverings or those with inaccessible cords should be used in homes with infants or young children.
The industry has invested millions of dollars to develop technology that has resulted in a wide platform of cordless products and products with inaccessible cords. Today, just about every product category on the market is offered with cordless or inaccessible cord options.
The industry has invested additional millions of dollars to develop, promote and distribute child-safety education and awareness materials at point-of-sale, online and in digital and social media campaigns.
We firmly believe that even one child fatality is one too many. We also believe that new product development and increased consumer education is working, as the number of fatalities has declined dramatically over the last five years.

Keep Kids Safe Around Window Coverings

Keep cords and chains far out of reach of children.
- This includes the ladder and lift cords running through the blind slats which young children can pull out and quickly become entangled.
Never tie, loop, or knot cords together.
- Ideally, completely cordless window treatments are best especially in rooms where young children and pets are likely to spend a lot of time.
Make sure blinds & shades are properly installed.
- Read all instructions provided by the window blind manufacturer and make sure the window treatment is installed securely.
Children should never play with window treatments.
- Never allow children or pets to play with or chew on window treatments. Teach them early on to stay away from the window blinds.
Keep children & pets away from windows.
- Move furniture and toys that children could climb on away from windows. Never place cribs, playpens, or children’s beds near windows and window treatments.
Check child’s caregiver’s window treatments.
- Make sure your child is safe when they’re under someone else’s supervision. Share your concerns and verify that your child’s caregiver has taken steps to ensure safety.
Eliminate dangling cords and secure them out of the reach of young children and pets.
- The Window Covering Safety Council recommends that if at all possible upgrade to only cordless window coverings in homes where infants and young children are present. Sometimes replacing every window treatment simply isn’t an option. However, installing safety tassels and securing cords out of reach is a safer alternative to dangling cords.

Child Safety is a very important focus at Peachtree Blinds. We will work closely with you to make sure your child has a safe, worry free environment. If you would like assistance making your window treatments safe please give us a call at 770-664-0027. Together we can educate others and save lives.