What Everyone Should Know About Window Cord Safety

Children should never play with curtain and blind cords. These cords can be extremely dangerous if they end up wrapped around the child's neck. When they are in the reach of small children, these potentially harmful cords are strangulation hazards. Families try to keep their homes safe by baby proofing their homes, but many times they over look the corded window shades and curtains. Not all window coverings in your home may be up to date with the latest safety standards. Anything that was purchased before 2001 is considered to be an older window covering so you may need to replace them or retrofit the blinds.

If you need to retrofit your older window coverings you can contact the Window Covering Safety Council for the products you will need to protect your child. Since preventing cord accidents is a top priority for the safety of young children they can provide you with some free information. If you would like they can also send you some free cord stops, tassels and tie down devices through the mail at no charge. They will not charge you shipping and handling or taxes on the safety devices. These products, although you are limited to the amount you can receive, are completely free to you and your family. You can complete an order form online at their website or you can even phone your order in by calling 1-800-506-4636. They will also send you their brochure and the instructions to help you install your devices on your windows.

According to there websites order form there are three different kinds of retrofit kits available. These include kits for Mini blinds, Horizontal Blinds, Pleated Shades, Vertical Blinds and Traverse-Rod Draperies. If you have older blinds with looped pull cords (purchased prior to 1995) they will all require kits with both cord stops and safety tassels. Each of these kits will retro fit 4 blinds. So, if you have eight blinds to retro fit, you will need to order two kits. Then if you have any newer blinds (purchased after 1995) that do not have looped pull cords, these will only need cord stops. Each of these kits will retro fit 4 blinds. Vertical blinds and traverse draperies will need tie-down devices to permanently secure the pull cord to the wall or floor. You only need to order 1 tie down for each vertical blind or drape to be retro fitted.

If you are planning to replace your window treatments instead then you will want to look into buying a cordless style covering. Even though many window coverings come with safety built in you should know that there still is a risk when a cord is involved. You will want to keep your child safe by eliminating the cord altogether. There are many cordless options available for your windows like vertical blinds, spring loaded, wand pulls and motored remote controlled blinds.

Remember to always keep window safety in mind when arranging your furniture or child's room. Do not place any furniture where the child might climb onto it to reach window cords or fall out the window. Make sure you keep all window screens in good repair and retrofit or replace any old window coverings that have cords.