Cordless Products More Safe for Children
Recalls due to safety concerns have been underway for years when it comes to corded window products. The cording poses a definite safety issue to small children. Homeowners and/or landlords that are aware of the frequent presence of small children should make safety considerations a high priority when purchasing window coverings.
1. Walk through and actually look at the window coverings currently installed (cell shades, horizontal blinds, vertical blinds, roman shades, honeycomb shades, etc.) It doesn’t matter what type of product is in use; take a small chunk of time and consider the negative possibilities presented by its design. ANY exposed cording poses a danger to small children. Check the back of the product in addition to the front.
2. Exposed cording should lead you to consider your options. Manufacturers of almost every type of window treatment from vertical blinds to cell shades now have retro fit kits available free of charge to alleviate any safety concerns on older products. These retro fit kits are available by contacting most manufacturers.
3. If at all possible consumers are urged to replace products with visible cording with newer, safer cordless products. If it’s a viable option financially homeowners and landlords alike should consider the peace of mind that will come with knowing that the safety issue has been removed entirely from the property. Cordless products provide the full range of features and benefits that traditional, corded products are known for. They just come with the additional benefit of safety.
4. Property owners can remedy the issue temporarily by tying down any looping cords. The required Hold Downs can be purchased at the local hardware store. They can also be cut and tied with a tassel. Another easy rule to follow to increase safety around windows is to avoid putting any large furniture next to a window. Doing so increases the chances that a child will gain access to exposed cording.
If safety issues are identified in relation to window coverings in the home the issue should be addressed immediately. If the retro-fit kit is not accessible through the manufacturer or consumers are having difficulty accessing the manufacturer’s contact information they should contact the Window Covering Safety Council. This organization provides a full range of safety information regarding windows and window coverings and is more than happy to provide retro-fit kits to consumers free of charge. While they provide any and all answers regarding elevating older blinds and window covering products to meet current safety standards…they agree with the industry experts in saying that the safest option is to install cordless products.
Chris Stanley is a window treatments expert at Blinds Chalet. Blinds Chalet has more than 25 years of experience in the window coverings industry and strives to educate consumers about purchasing and installing window blinds before they buy. Focusing on high quality, company tested and approved window treatments at affordable prices, Blinds Chalet is a resource for all things window blinds related.
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