We all strive to make our homes safe for our children. But a basic item found in many homes could be a hidden danger, ready to strike. The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission says window coverings that use operating cords are among the biggest hidden home safety hazards. To call attention to this little-known fact, October has been designated National Window Covering Safety Month by the Window Covering Safety Council (WCSC) and the CPSC.
At Draper At Home, every month is Window Covering Safety Month. We consistently educate our dealers and their customers on the dangers of corded window coverings, and offer safe alternatives designed to prevent tragic accidents.
Here are some shading alternatives to protect children from strangulation risks caused by corded window coverings:
Battery-Operated Shades
Cordless battery operation is the easiest and least expensive motorized window shade option. Neither electrical nor control wiring is required, and Integration into building control and smart home automation systems is a snap.
Motorized Shades
Line and low voltage shades are easy to operate and integrate into any type of smart home system, and they also feature no cords.
UpLift Shades
Motorization doesn’t always make sense or fit the budget. Draper At Home UpLift manual roller shades offer a cordless design with elegant hardware, enhancing your interior while ensuring child safety. Their touch-controlled retraction is super smooth.
Best for Kids™
What do all three of the above options have in common? They are all certified Best for Kids™ by the Window Covering Safety Council! Certified products have been tested by a third-party laboratory and meet one of three criteria: They have no cords, no operating cords and inner cords that are not accessible, or if accessible inner cords are present, they cannot create a hazardous loop.
To learn more about all of our Best for Kids certified shades, click here.
For more information on child safety, including standards, click here for an episode of the Draper At Home podcast where I speak with Ralph Vasami, Executive Director of the Window Covering Manufacturers Association (WCMA).
