Window Safety Tips

Window Safety Tips



Practice safety drills often. Small children tend to “hide” from fire. Make sure children are familiar with safety routes and know how to get quickly out of the home. Designate a place where the family can meet if separated. The home’s mailbox is always a good location.



Safety chain ladders should be located under beds of bedrooms on second floors. Practice operating the ladder with older children.



Keep furniture (including cribs) or anything children can climb away from windows.



Remember window screens are to keep insects out. They can not support the weight of a child or family pet.



Before ordering windows, be sure to examine the window’s locking systems. Multi-point locks provide more protection against intruders and make it more difficult for curious young children to operate.



If you don’t use window guards, install and use window stops so that windows open no more than 4 inches. Whether opening windows from the bottom, top, or side, openings should never exceed 4 inches with children present.



If you have blinds or roman shades as your window coverings, make sure that the cords are out of reach of children. Children can get caught in dangling cords and strangle. If buying new, cordless window coverings is not an option for you, contact the Window Covering Safety Council at www.windowcoverings.org to obtain a free repair kit and install it properly to make your window coverings safer. Some, but not all, of the repair kits will make your window coverings cordless. After you install a repair kit, check your window coverings again for accessible cords.