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.
