Welcome to October. It’s a time, in Idaho, of much cooler weather, a little more rain, and an emphasis on Blind Safety Awareness. That’s right, Blind Safety Awareness month has come again and this year it’s bigger than ever! More and more manufactures of fine window coverings and responsible distributors like Blind Appeal are stocking safer models of blinds and other window coverings in an effort to help parents keep their children safe all across the country. Let’s dive into what exactly blind safety awareness is and how you can help to better childproof your home or the home of someone you love who has kids. Let’s learn more, shall we?

What Is National Window Covering Safety Month?

Window Covering Safety Month is a pretty big deal in the industry. Every year, many children are injured or worse due to interactions with unsafe and poorly installed blinds and window coverings. The Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) of the United States Of America is an organization that serves the nation by ensuring that parents across the country are informed and equipped with the best tools necessary to ensure that their children are safe around windows. They published a study that highlights certain dangers of corded window coverings and also shows that they are among the top five home hazards in the U.S. today. To ensure that parents have the tools they need to help make informed purchasing and childproofing decisions, learn more from the Window Covering Safety Council.  

Blind Appeal Stands Firm On Safety. We Can Help!

If you have any safety questions, please don’t hesitate to reach out to us and we can help you right away. You can do so by contacting us here or by giving us a call at: (208) 888-1056. No question is off limits when it comes to the safety of your children in your household. Our personnel are always happy to answer your questions in this area even if you don’t end up purchasing safe blinds from us. We just want to make sure that your kids are protected in every way possible. We do have an excellent selection of child safe blinds and window coverings. Just ask as you talk to a sales representative! 

What Are Some Tips For Ensuring My Blinds And Home Are Child Safe?

The best thing you can do is to replace and then throw away any blinds in your home that are not safe for kids, which are typically older, or not designated “Best For Kids” somewhere on the blind housing itself. If you don’t see that designation, then it is probably time to get rid of them. Here are some other tips you can use to help improve the child safety of your home.

• Make sure that all cribs and child beds are well away from windows if possible. It is too much of a temptation for them to climb up if their bed is close to a window.
• If you DO currently have blinds with cords, we strongly recommend that you install hooks or anchors to the sides of your windows that you can use to tie or wrap the cord around so that it is well out of the reach of your children. Then, we recommend immediately purchasing cordless child safe blinds if possible
• As you do your spring and fall cleaning each year, take a moment to assess your home’s child safety features. Here are some things to look for:
  • Are the corners of your counters and tables padded?
  • Do you have fresh batteries in your smoke detectors and carbon monoxide detectors?
  • Are your electrical sockets equipped with plugs to prevent children from playing with them?
  • Do you have the contact information for poison control and their pediatrician on hand?
  • Are your cleaning supplies and chemicals out of reach and locked securely away from your children’s reach?
  • Is your fire extinguisher charged and free of damage, rust, or other function issues? Check it at least every six months to ensure it is ready when you need it. Always have a backup as well!

Conclusion

We hope that this October’s National Window Covering Safety Month information was useful to you. If you want to make a purchase, schedule one of our window covering experts for a FREE estimate and more information by calling the office at 208-888-1056. If you have any questions about purchasing some awesome exterior solar shades or commercial blind or window covering work, or any other window covering related issue, we would love to hear from you. Contact us today to get started.