HOW TO MAKE WINDOW COVERINGS SAFER FOR YOUR KIDS

According to the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC), more than 140 children - approximately one death a month - have died in the U.S. since 1981 from strangulation in window covering cords.

Today’s window covering products, which include horizontal blinds, pleated and cellular shades, vertical blinds, and draperies, need just a few, simple adjustments to make them safer around young children.

	TO ELIMINATE LOOPS ON TWO-CORDED HORIZONTAL BLINDS:
	Cut the cord above the end tassel (the item that looks like a small wooden - or plastic - "thimble").
	Remove the equalizer buckle.
	Add new tassels for the two cords that have been created. Slip a tassel onto each cord and tie knots to hold them in place. You may use a breakaway tassel available in some stores, instead of the separate tassels. A breakaway tassel will separate if a child becomes entangled in the loop.

The CPSC urges you NOT to knot or tie the cords together after cutting them because that will only create a new loop in which a child can become entangled.

	FOR TWO-CORDED PLEATED OR CELLULAR SHADES:
	Leave the cord stop in place as close as possible to the headrail, when the blind is completely closed.
	Cut the cords above the end tassel.
	Knot a separate tassel at the end of each cord.

WARNING: when the shades are raised, a loop will appear above the cord stop. ALWAYS keep the cord out of the reach of children.

	CHILD PROOF VERTICAL BLINDS, CONTINUOUS LOOP SYSTEMS AND DRAPERY CORDS:
	These window coverings require looped cords to function. Do not cut the loops.