(ARA) - Open a window
and you open your world. Windows add so much to our
lives; they bring in welcome light and fresh air and
they help protect us from the elements. As the
weather warms and windows are opened more often,
follow these important tips to enhance home safety:
* There is no safety substitute for the importance
of responsible adult supervision around children.
Set and enforce rules about keeping children's play
away from windows or patio doors to help prevent an
accidental fall or injury.
* For greatest safety, keep your windows closed and
locked when children are around. When opening
windows for ventilation, open those that a child
cannot reach. For example, on double-hung windows
which feature two moveable sashes, open the top
portion for ventilation and keep the bottom part
closed for greater safety.
* Remember that insect screens are simply designed
to provide ventilation and to keep insects out. Do
not rely on them to keep a child in; they will not
prevent a child's fall.
* Keep furniture such as beds and dressers -- or
anything children can climb -- away from windows to
help improve safety in your home. Furniture placed
under a window can create an enticement to climb and
the potential to fall. Furniture placed under a
window could also slow your escape from a home in
the event of an emergency, such as a fire.
* Windows provide a secondary means of escape from a
burning home. For greater safety, determine your
family's emergency escape plan and practice it
regularly. Designate a door and a window as an
escape route from each room in your home. Make sure
each opens quickly and easily and keep the escape
route free from clutter which could present a
tripping or falling hazard. Remember that children
may have to rely on a window to escape in a fire.
Help them learn to safely use a window under these
circumstances.
* When performing seasonal repairs or cleaning, make
sure your windows and doors are not jammed, painted
or nailed shut. You must be able to open them
quickly to escape in an emergency. If they don’t,
it’s time to consider replacement.
* Windows which tilt in for cleaning not only
provide greater convenience, but greater safety,
too. When choosing windows, look for those which can
be cleaned from the interior simply by tilting the
unit inward and you eliminate the need to climb an
exterior ladder for window cleaning.
* If you have young children in your home and are
considering adding window guards, or window fall
prevention devices, install guards with a
quick-release mechanism, so they can be opened for
escape in an emergency. Consult your local fire
department or building code official for more
information on window guard options and proper
placement.
* If you live in an area subject to hurricanes,
consider impact-resistant glass for windows and
patio doors to help provide year-round protection
from winds, rain and flying debris. Impact-resistant
glass which cannot be easily penetrated, helps
protect your home year-round, eliminating the use of
cumbersome shutters or other temporary unsightly
options such as plywood over windows.
* If your home features impact-resistant windows or
patio doors designed to withstand hurricane-force
winds, train your family members to first attempt to
open the window to exit through it in an emergency,
rather than trying to break the glass.
Impact-resistant glass cannot be easily penetrated,
so it’s important to acquaint family members with
how to open units, or designate other exits if the
unit is fixed in place and does not open.
For greater safety, look for blinds and shades with
no cords
Window treatments can also contribute to childhood
injuries presenting potential choking or
strangulation hazards associated with traditional
roomside cords. For greater safety, consider window
treatments with no room-side cords. One option is
Pella’s Designer Series Collection of windows and
patio doors, which feature blinds or shades
protected between two panes of glass. The cordless
operation of the collection, and protection of
window treatments between glass, gives parents and
pet owners an added peace of mind because it keeps
children and pets safer in the home. Plus, since
they’re tucked between glass, the blinds and shades
are virtually free from dust, making them cleaner
and safer.
National Window Safety Week
To encourage safety awareness, Pella Corporation is
proud to partner with the National Safety Council
through its Window Safety Committee, to recognize
National Window Safety Week, April 24 to 30, 2007.
Safety tips are available year-round at: www.nsc.org/aware/window/.
To find a local Pella Window & Door store near you
or to contact a local Pella expert, call (888)
84-PELLA or log on to www.pella.com.
Courtesy of ARA Content
