Keeping your pets and children safe is a top priority. When it comes to window coverings, are you aware of child safety and the dangers of blind cords? October is safety awareness. At school, your kids may be practicing fire safety and tornado drills, but what about at home? At Creative Blinds, we want to share different options that can keep your loved ones out of harm’s way.
Current Regulations for Child Safe Window Coverings
As of December 2018, the United States government Consumer Product Safety Commission put regulations in place with new standards for the window covering industry. For years, warnings have been issued, due to statistics in relation to the dangers of exposed blind cords. As of 2022, the commission “determined that custom window coverings with accessible operating cords longer than 8 inches pose an unreasonable risk of strangulation to children 8 years old and younger.”
Pesky Cords
Dangling cords, and the dangers they produce, are incredibly scary. Hunter Douglas, however, is ahead of their time, making child-safe features a priority for quite some time.
It’s Best to Start Now
Many families try to “baby proof” their homes, but it’s important knowing that older, more active children pose a larger threat when it comes to messing with cords. They are moving around more (and much, much faster) and can get tangled in a blink of an eye.
Types of Cordless Options
The two types of cordless options are Manual and Motorized.
Manual Operation:
With your hand, window shades and blinds can adjust up or down. This is the cordless LiteRise operating system. They are moved easily, and stay in place where you leave them.
Motorized Operation:
Automated and simple touch controls of your window shades and blinds.
Smart shades
- Move with remote, smart phone, voice control, tablet & integration with smart home
- A remote control can adjust the motorized window treatments
SoftTouch
- Requires a gentle nudge on the wand located directly at the window. Nudge or pull to activate the adjustments. Handled too harshly and the wand disconnects from the magnetic connection.
- This motorized operating system stays at the individual window.
Safe Cords
No, that is not an oxymoron. There ARE safe cords. Sometimes a room’s layout or lifestyle requires a cord, and there are safe options.
UltraGlide
This retractable cord is a safe length, staying out of harm’s way and short enough to not cause problems to begin with. When you pull the cord, window coverings adjust, but the cord immediately retracts to the short position. No hassle.
Cord Tensioners
Continuous cord loops have been a popular way to adjust window shades for years. The problem arises when child safe features aren’t installed. Many of the new systems won’t even adjust unless they have a cord tensioner installed–which makes new ones get installed properly from the start. Cord tensioners are installed at the window frame, keeping the cord loop held securely so there is no slack in the line, but the movement of the cord can still adjust the window shades.
What Do Parents Have to Say?
“You don’t realize how easy cordless shades are until you have them in place–life changing.”
“We are thrilled with the safety features we have at the window now. Replacing our old blinds was one of the best decisions.”
“Our motorized shades not only make it easy to adjust, they keep everyone safe, and that’s a great feeling.”
Ready to Add Child-Safe Features?
There is no better time than the present to make sure your family is safe. To us, you’re family. So, let’s get started. Contact us today for a free design consultation.
