Did you know that in 2001, the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission required a change in the manufacture of cords for window coverings in response to child-strangulation concerns?
This is another of those cases where my Mother asks, "How did we manage to raise you with all that danger around?" It seems to me that parents could have managed this all by themselves, rather than requiring the expense of an entire Federal Safety Commission.
If you have cords that were purchased prior to 2001, and feel that you need to protect your children from their threat, free retro-fit repair devices are available to you through the Window Covering Safetly Council. Go to www.windowcoverings.org for information.
They have these suggestions for you:
Move all cribs, beds, furniture and toys away from windows and window cords.
Keep all window cords out of reach of children.
Make sure continuous loop cords are permanently anchored to the floor or wall.
Lock the cords into position whenever the blinds or shades are lowered, including when they come to rest on the window sill.
Consider installing cordless window coverings in children's bedrooms and play areas.
I think that each of those suggestions should be perfectly obvious to any parent. We shouldn't have to be encouraging you to think about these things, but in the event that I might save ONE child, I've posted the reminder. If you haven't thought of all these recommendations on your own, you need to spend more time talking to your mother or grandmother or aunt, or older friend.
What do you think, Esmay? Should I be rating this with Peeves??