Regardless of where they’re installed, window blinds offer a lot of benefits to properties other than just complementing the overall decor of the rooms they’re integrated into. They can help control the amount of natural daylight a property receives, help with insulation and enhance privacy, among other benefits. But window blinds also need to be safe as well, especially in areas that are commonly frequented by children. It’s why any commercial window treatments that you install in your property should be safe for children – and a 2018 safety standard instituted by the Window Covering Manufacturers Association (WCMA} and approved by the American National Standards Institute (ANSI} helps ensure these safety measures are met.
In this post, we’ll take a closer look at the WCMA window covering safety standard, what it means and how it helps keep children safe from injury. We’ll also explain what to look for when purchasing blinds to ensure that they are safe for children.
WCMA Safety Standards: What You Need to Know
Before we get into the basics of the 2018 WCMA safety standard, it’s first worth sharing some information on why this standard exists in the first place. While you may not think that a window treatment like blinds could be hazardous, it’s estimated that about 17,000 children ages 6 and under were treated in hospital emergency rooms due to injuries sustained from corded blinds between 1990 and 2015. While this is a large time span, that number still equates to about two children seeking emergency care per day. A “Best for Kids” program was created by the WCMA in 2015 to help consumers select window treatments that are safest for kids, however 50 fatalities were recorded in a five-year span between 2012 and 2017, which ultimately led to this safety standard. Simply put, the standard impacted about 80 percent of all window treatments throughout North America. Essentially, it eliminated long cords on blinds and sought to ensure window treatments were either cordless or had short cords – about 40 percent of total blind height – that were more likely to be out of reach of young children.
How to Choose Window Blinds that are Safe for Children (and Other Tips)
Despite the best efforts from the WCMA to make window treatments safer, there are likely products out there that are not in compliance with its safety standard. Noting this, we encourage consumers to stay diligent when selecting window treatments that will be installed in areas frequented by young children. Here’s a look at what to watch for to ensure you’re choosing a safe type:
- Look for a “Best for Kids” sticker. This program was created by WCMA in 201 5, and qualifying products have a certification label to identify them as such. •
- Go cordless: When a blind style without a cord is selected, it eliminates the chances for young children to become entangled or strangled in the cord. •
- Choose a short cord: According to the WCMA’s safety standard, blinds in compliance must have a shortened cord that is no longer than 40 percent of the total blind height.
Other Blinds Safety Tips with Young Children
Even after purchasing blinds that are safe for children, it still makes sense to take other measures to ensure they’ll be extra protected. Some tips to follow include:
- Moving furniture used by children away from the windows so any cords are less accessible.
- Removing any dangling cords, or installing hardware to make them shorter or keep them out of reach.
- Assess any blinds that were installed prior to the WCMA’s safety standard and replace as necessary with “Best for Kids” varieties.
Contact Presidential Window Products Today
For more information on how to select window treatments that are safe for children, contact Presidential Window Products today. We’ll work with you to suggest blinds for your property that are compliant with the WCMA safety standard so you can have peace of mind that you’re operating a safe facility. Contact us today for more information.