Going Cordless is More Important Than Ever

Published 10/1/2020

October is National Window Covering Safety Month, an initiative created by the Window Covering Safety Council (WCSC). This year’s Window Covering Safety Month theme is “Safety Starts at Home – Go Cordless” and emphasizes that, as families and children are home more than ever because of the COVID-19 pandemic, it’s important for parents to ensure they have a safer home by using cordless window coverings.  This entails checking all window coverings for exposed or dangling cords which can pose a strangulation hazard to infants and young children.

According to the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission
(CPSC), corded window coverings are one of the top five hidden
hazards in American homes. A new U.S. Safety Standard requires
all stock products sold in stores nationwide and online to be
cordless, have inaccessible or short cords, making it even easier
for parents to find safe window covering products for homes with young children.

Norman®  was at the forefront of this initiative and offers numerous options that are Certified Best for Kids™ in every product category.   This designation ensures your window treatment selection has met the highest child safety standards and will give you peace of mind.

See our extensive list of Certified Best for Kids™ products here.

View Norman®’s full line of window treatments here.

Consumers are urged to observe the following safety guidelines to maximize window cord safety when young children are present:

1. Install only cordless window coverings or those with inaccessible cords in homes with young children. Replace window blinds and corded shades with products that are cordless or have inaccessible cords marked with the Best for Kids™ certification label. This label makes it easy to identify products best suited for homes with young children.
2. If the corded window coverings can’t be replaced with today’s safer products at this time, parents and caregivers should check for the following:
   • Keep all window covering cords well out of the reach of children. Eliminate any dangling cords.
   • Move all cribs, beds, furniture and toys away from windows and window covering cords, preferably to another wall.
   • Make certain that tasseled pull cords are tied up out of reach and as short as possible.
   • Continuous-loop cords on draperies and vertical blinds should be permanently anchored to the floor or wall.
   • Check that cord stops are properly installed and adjusted to limit the movement of inner lift cords.

For a more comprehensive list of suggested child safety measures including non-window treatment related items please download the WCSC’s Childproofing Checklist Here.

For more information on window cord safety in the home, visit www.windowcoverings.org. Connect with WCSC on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram for more home safety information and ideas.