Simonton Windows Recognizes National Window Safety Week – April 20-26, 2008
Tips for Window Safety
In preparation for National Window Safety Week sponsored by the National Safety Council, leaders at Simonton Windows offer the following tips for keeping family members safe in the home:
Tip #1 – Practice safety drills regularly. Small children tend to “hide” from fire, so make sure children are familiar with escape routes and know how to move quickly out of the home.
Tip #2 – For homes with bedrooms on second floors or higher, make sure safety escape chain ladders are under the bed in every room. Practice operating the window with older children and show them how to install chain ladders.
Tip #3 – Keep furniture (including cribs), or anything children can climb, away from windows.
Tip #4 – If you live in an area prone to active children or potential crime, order windows with laminated safety glass --- at least for the first floor of the home. Two panes of glass are adhered to a durable plastic interlayer, much like a car windshield. So, if a stray baseball hits a window, the glass will shatter, but broken pieces remain adhered to the interlayer, preventing glass fallout inside the home. The plastic interlayer is also puncture-resistant, frustrating potential intruders.
Tip #5 – Remember that window screens are designed only to keep insects outside --- they will not support the weight of a child or family pet pushing against them.
Tip #6 – Looking to protect your home from harmful ultraviolet (UV) rays? Request Low E glass in your windows to reduce fading of carpets, furniture and window treatments due to the sun’s harsh rays.
Tip #7 – When windows are opened for ventilation, only open windows that young children cannot reach.
Tip # 8 – Opening second floor windows can present a greater risk to children and pets. In these areas of the home, consider Double Hung windows, which have top sash that open down while the bottom sash (closest to the floor) remain closed. Full screens are needed when Double Hung windows are open from the top to provide insect protection.
Tip #9 – Before ordering windows, make sure to examine the unit’s locking system and operations. Multi-point locks provide more protection against intruders and make it more difficult for curious young children to operate.
Tip #10 – If you need to use window guards on the interior of your windows, make sure they are operable and can be easily removed. Practice detaching the guards with children in case they need to exit through a window in an emergency.
In addition to these useful tips, the Window Safety Task Force of the National Safety Council offers these important window safety tips at their web site, www.nsc.org/aware/window/index.
- Make sure windows are not painted or nailed shut. You must be able to escape through them in an emergency.
- Do not install window air conditioner units in windows that may be needed for escape in an emergency. At least one window in every sleeping and living area of the home should be easily accessible for escape.
- Placing shrubs or soft edging (like wood chips) beneath windows may lessen the impact if a fall through a window does occur.
“Practicing window safety is critical 365 days a year,” says Christopher Burk, product manager for Simonton Windows. “National agencies, window associations and window manufacturers are all keenly aware of the vital role windows play in home safety. Homeowners --- especially parents of small children --- need to make themselves equally aware of window safety issues.
“Every family should make it a priority during National Window Safety Week to review and practice emergency exit plans, show children how to safely operate windows and analyze the performance of their windows. Just like other major items in the home, such as roofing, siding and appliances, windows need to be replaced over time. Doing a careful analysis of window performance and safety during National Window Safety Week benefits every family member.”