Cord Safety
There has been information in the news this past week about cord safety on roman and roller shades. Young children and pets can easily become entangled in a loose cord. It happens when kids are left alone for only a short time. Really, any shade or blind that has cords needs attention.
I think the current issue about cord safety comes from ready-made shades that you find in the discount stores. These shades are usually installed by the home owner. Instructions and warnings may or may not be there, but often they can be overlooked by the homeowner installer.
The shades we sell and install all provide ways to be safe. We have cordless shades that raise and lower by pulling on the bottom rail, not by a cord. We do have continuous cord shades, but they are always secured at the bottom. We have blinds that have two cords feeding into one tassel, but when any pressure is put on the cord, the tassel breaks into two pieces and is no longer a loop. Even vertical blinds have cords that are secured at the bottom of the cord loop.
Here are some absolutely easy ways to solve the cord danger problem:
NEVER put a crib or bed under a window.
ALWAYS secure the cord with a cord cleat or hold down attachment.
ALWAYS use a break away tassel so the cord will separate into two separate cords.
Here is a notice I received from my supplier that you might find helpful:
It is also important to understand that this is not a recall in the traditional sense, but a “recall to repair.” The consumer does not actually return any product. Instead, they can contact the Window Covering Safety Council to obtain free CPSC-approved retrofit kits for roman shades and roll-up blinds. Consumers can contact the Window Covering Safety Council (WCSC) at www.windowcoverings.org or by calling (800) 506-4636.
Be safe. Give your child or grandchild a hug. Secure those cords.
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