Although windows can offer access to sunlight and circulate fresh air within your home, they can also pose serious safety hazards. The two main causes of window injuries are falls and strangulation from the looped cords on draperies, blinds and shades.
Most of these accidents affect young children and occur when parents don’t realize that safety hazards are present. With this in mind, consider the following guidance to keep your children safe whenever they are near windows.
Preventing Falls 
- Install window guards on upper floors in your home to prevent children from falling out.
- Move furniture away from windows in children’s rooms so they are not tempted to climb on it and open the windows.
- If you decide to keep windows open, don’t leave young children unattended.
Mitigating Strangulation Hazards
- Don’t place your child’s bed or crib next to or near a window.
- If your child can crawl or walk, don’t place chairs, couches or bookcases near windows.
- Remove the loops on cords by cutting the cord above the tassel, removing the equalizer buckle if there is one and then adding a new tassel to the cords that have been created.
- Childproof vertical blinds by installing a tie-down to the floor, wall or window jamb so the cord is pulled tight and cannot be removed.
Assess Your Home to Avoid Accidents
Don’t wait until it’s too late to childproof the windows within your home. The easiest way to prevent accidents around windows is to eliminate hazards before children get curious. That being said, be sure to routinely evaluate your home for window-related hazards and make adjustments as needed. Further, make sure all of the windows in your home are installed and repaired by a qualified professional and according to the manufacturer’s instructions.
For more personal risk management guidance and homeowners insurance solutions, contact us today.