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(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,
2005. 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
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