Children are naturally curious and creative, and they will turn anything into a toy. Unfortunately, some things around the home can be very hazardous, including cords dangling from window treatments. The window treatment industry has been aware of the dangers of the hanging, dangling cords on:
- Honeycomb shades
- Horizontal blinds
- Pleated shades
- Roll-up shades/roller shades
- Roman-style shades
An option to make your current window coverings safe is to retrofit the corded operating systems. To order a free retrofit kit for older window treatments, contact the Window Covering Safety Council at http://windowcoverings.org. Or you can order a new, cost-effective Safe-T-Wand, which encases hanging, dangling, and strangling cords. If you have woven wood or Roman shades, you can order the ProLift™ system, which will lock the strings in place so your children can’t get their head in the cords. Click here to learn more about the Safe-T-Wand retrofit kits and where to buy them.
If you’re looking to buy new treatments, you can’t go wrong with plantation shutters. Because they operate with louvers, they are completely cord-free, eliminating the dangers of the dangling cords. If those aren’t your style, you can find any number of Hunter Douglas treatments with child-safe options for operating them. For example, you could get a wand system, a clutch lifting system, or the Vertiglide system, which is a cordless option for windows that open side to side.
Other options include motorization, which has the added benefit of security and convenience. Plus, motorization options are great for hard-to-reach windows like skylights and for elderly people in your home. Finally, you could get the LiteRise® and SimpleLift™ Operating Systems, for which you simply push up to raise and pull down to lower. Your blinds and shades stay right where you put them.
Click here to learn more and download the Hunter Douglas Child Safety brochure.
No matter what you choose, be aware that the Window Covering Industry uses many methods to communicate the potential hazards of corded window treatments. The use of tags helps communicate the important message of child safety and the potential strangulation hazards of corded window treatments. Be on the lookout for that type of information!
Safe Lift Systems in the Atlanta and Buckhead Areas
Georgia Blinds & Interiors is a Hunter Douglas Gallery serving the Atlanta and Buckhead, GA, areas. We offer custom blinds, shades, sheers, shutters and draperies to homeowners, realtors, homebuilders, remodeling specialists and interior designers.
At Georgia Blinds & Interiors, our experienced staff will make your shopping experience one you won’t forget. Together they will work with you to find the perfect solution for your home. Visit our showroom or contact us for a personal in-home design consultation today!
Leave a Reply