October is Window Covering Safety Month. The annual educational effort is sponsored by the Window Covering Safety Council (WCSC), a coalition of U.S. manufacturers, importers, and retailers, to raise awareness of window covering cords and child safety.
A 2018 study by the Center for Injury Research and Policy at Nationwide Children’s Hospital found that more than 600 young children per year are treated in emergency rooms for injuries related to window coverings.
These findings don’t mean that all window coverings – including roller shades – are inherently unsafe. Rather, it shows the need to make the correct choices when these products will be readily accessible to children, or in spaces where children are likely to be present.
Going Cordless—Battery Shades
The most efficient way to go cordless is to install battery operated shades. Draper Shades with battery motors can be retrofitted into existing manual shade brackets, and no wiring is required! These shades can be controlled by wireless remotes or wall switches or integrated into smart control home systems at a lower cost than standard motorized shades. Draper battery shade solutions include the FlexShade® Battery and FlexShade® Battery Zigbee.
Going Cordless—Manual Shades
There are good options for manually operated roller shades that don’t involve cords. The Crank-Operated FlexShade® can be installed with removeable handles allow easy and safe operation. They offer the added bonus of limiting access to the shades by simply removing the crank handle and placing it in a secure location. Spring roller shades are also a safe bet.
Corded Shade Safety
If you currently or plan to have bead chain operated shades in a space where young children are likely to come into contact with them, the shades must comply with ANSI/WCMA A100.1. Draper bead chain operated shades can be provided with a pre-installed Spring-Loaded Chain Tension Device that keeps the chain loop tight. For existing shades with free hanging bead chains, you can contact a Draper dealer to order one. You can also order a free retrofit kit from the WCSC.
For more information on ANSI/WCMA A100.1, please click here.
