Child Window Safety

First, window screens are not meant to prevent children from falling out of windows. Window screens are meant exclusively for ventilation and for preventing insects from entering the home. Consequently, if you have small children, window guards, sliding window locks, and window stoppers should be installed on all windows that could be viewed as a risk to your child’s safety. Also, when you are not using your windows for ventilation, always keep them closed and locked.

Second, make sure your child’s bed and other bedroom furniture is not located next to or near a window. A child could easily climb on either of these types of items to get access to a window.

Third, if you have double hung window, instead of raising the lower sash to ventilate a room, lower the upper sash instead. By lowering the upper sash you make it much more difficult for the child to reach the open window. Finally, in regards to window treatments and child window safety, pay close attention to the types of window blinds you purchase or currently own. Window blind strings and cords can accidentally get wrapped around a child’s neck and cause hanging and/or suffocation.

If you are in the process of purchasing new window treatments, select window blinds that do not have loose cords. If you currently have window blinds with cords purchase cord wraps. Mount them on the sides of the window frames so that you can prevent the cords from hanging loosely.

So don’t let your family and child become a statistic. By exercising these few simple child window safety precautions you can protect your child from accidental window injuries and feel more comfortable in your home.