October is National Window Covering Safety Month. Children are innately curious about the world around them and even basic household items like blinds and shades can turn into potential hazards for them. According to the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC), corded window coverings are one of the top five hidden hazards in American homes. What exactly is the hazard? Dangling cords from window coverings can pose a strangulation risk and can be life-threatening to infants, young children and pets. A serious accident can only take seconds. The CPSC, window covering industry, and consumer safety advocates agree that cordless window coverings or those with inaccessible cords should be used in homes with young children and pets.
Cordless Operating Systems
With LiteRise, a cordless system offered by Hunter Douglas, you simply use your fingers to raise or lower the product. This eliminates the need for an operating cord and also offers a more streamlined appearance. LiteRise is available on a wide range of products including Silhouette Sheer Shadings, Vignette Modern Roman Shades, Duette cellular shades, Designer Roller & Screen shades, Solera shades, Sonnette shades, and Provenance Woven Wood shades.
We offer the Easy Spring Plus cordless system for custom fabric roman shades. With the tug of a ring on the back of the shade, you can easily raise and lower the shade.
Motorized Operating Systems
Almost any window covering can be motorized. You can control shades, shutters, and draperies via a remote control, and you can integrate them into your Smart Home systems. Control them via an app on a smartphone, or use voice command to control your window coverings with Amazon Echo, Google Nest, or Apple HomeKit. You can also integrate them with your home automation systems like Control4, Crestron, Elan, Savant, RTI and URC. Motorization is effortless, cordless and fully automated with your window coverings moving at pre-set days and times.
Other Safety Options and Features
Shutters are cordless by design, eliminating the potential safety hazards posed by operating cords. Add beauty to any room with shutters, which are especially well suited to homes with children. There are other lift systems, such as Hunter Douglas’ UltraGlide system, that use a retractable wand mechanism to raise and lower shades. The wand replaces lift cords. Another safety feature option is the cord tensioner designed with spring tension and bracket. Cord tensioners are used with continuous cord control systems. When properly installed, the cord tensioner holds the cord loop taut to reduce the risk of child entanglement.
Safety Is Everybody’s Business.
Prevention begins with awareness. Position cribs, beds, playpens and other furniture away from windows. Check your current window fashions for exposed or dangling cords. Move and secure cords out of reach of children. Permanently anchor continuous cord loop controls to the wall with a tensioning device. If possible, replace blinds and corded shades with cordless options.
Parkway Window Works partners with busy interior designers to take their window treatment vision from concept to reality. We are here to help you work through all the technical questions related to your window treatment project including window covering safety. Ready to specify the perfect window treatment for your clients with an infant, small children or pets? Contact us to get started.
