Window Covering Safety

The most important part of your home is who you share it with. Your family and pets are priorities in your lives, which is why child and pet safety is a priority of the Window Coverings Association of America (WCAA). We love that window coverings add practical functions to your home, such as privacy and improved energy efficiency. However, dangling cords and other dangers can be a safety hazard to your family, which is why we want to offer some ways to keep your loved ones safe without giving up the function and beauty of quality window coverings.

Choose Safety-Conscious Adjustment Methods

Dangling adjustment cords, especially those with loops, could be the most dangerous part of your window treatments. These dangerous dangling cords tempt both pets and small children to play with them, increasing the potential of strangulation even further. To keep your family members from harm, we suggest these safer alternatives for your home.

Cordless Window Styles

Choose from the wide range of cordless window treatments on the market to eliminate dangerous dangling cord loops and get more window covering safety in your home. Roller shades, roman shades, and cellular shades often come in cordless or motorized options, and some brands even have cordless options for blinds. Shutters are an ideal option since they are inherently cord-free and more durable than most aluminum blinds.

Wand Styles

For the window coverings that are not available in cordless styles, wand-operated adjustments can be a great way to go. Children can often be tempted to tug on long adjustment wands, which may risk pulling the window treatment off the wall. Look for window treatments with short adjustment wands for a safe alternative to corded adjustments.

Retractable Cord Styles

For window treatments that do require corded adjustments, retractable cord styles are much safer than traditional fixed cords. The innovative system provides all the ease of using fixed cords, like raising heavy and oversized window treatments, while also reducing risk by safely retracts the cord when not in use.

Try a Motorization or Automation System

Motorized and automatic window covering systems bring new advantages, but a few new hazards, into our homes. Motorization and automation systems eliminate the need for visible adjustment features as well as their potential dangers, making your home much safer for your children and pets.

Many automatic systems can be controlled with a remote, an app, or even by connecting to smart home systems to adjust using voice commands. Removing tempting dangling cords and wands greatly reduces the risk of traditional window treatments.

Many motorization and automation systems will however utilize plug-in power adapters, which can bring hazardous cables into your home as well as add the additional danger of electrocution.

To get the maximum benefit out of your motorized or automated window coverings while also improving the safety of your home, select styles that are powered by batteries or cord-free hardwired units.

Resources

To support child and pet safety in your home, here are a few resources to help. The Window Covering Safety Council offers support via FAQs, tips on child proofing a room, and window covering cord safety. The Window Covering Safety Council also offers a few infographic PSAs including an information video on “Only Use Cordless Window Coverings with Young Children.”

We Care

At the Window Coverings Association of America, we care about the safety of your family, which is why we encourage you to pay close attention to warning labels on your window treatments. To find out more about our partners and the child- and pet-safe window coverings they offer, contact us today. Remember that once you partner with us, you’ll never be alone. We’re here to support you and your business. Let us know how we can serve you today!