News Release

National Window Safety Week is April 24-30

Window and door industry promotes education about window safety

Itasca, IL – The National Safety Council (NSC), American Architectural Manufacturers Association (AAMA), Window & Door Manufacturers Association (WDMA), and Screen Manufacturers Association (SMA) have designated April 24-30 National Window Safety Week.

"We schedule the timing of National Window Safety Week to coincide with spring -- the time of year when we begin to open our windows,” says Alan C. McMillan, president and CEO of the National Safety Council. “This week we remind everyone of the risks open windows pose to young, unsupervised children.

From now until late fall it is important to remember:

• To keep windows closed and locked when young children are present.
• To never place furniture such as chairs, beds and sofas below windows. Unattended children can use pieces of furniture like these to quickly climb to an open window and potentially fall.
• That insect screens are not designed nor intended to prevent children from falling out of windows.

Also remember that windows can provide a life saving avenue of escape from a fire. Windows should be included in your home emergency escape plan, and children should be taught how to properly use a window for escape and rescue purposes.

Additional window safety information, developed by the NSC, AAMA, WDMA, and SMA, is available at Window Safety Week. Copies of the "Keeping the Promise of Safety" brochure are available at no charge by calling the National Safety Council at 1-800-621-7619 and requesting product number 000066215.

The The National Safety Council is a nonprofit, nongovernmental, international public service organization dedicated to protecting life and promoting health. Members of NSC include more than 45,000 businesses, labor organizations, schools, public agencies, private groups and individuals. Founded in 1913, and chartered by the U.S. Congress in 1953, the primary focus of the NSC is preventing injuries on highways and in homes, workplaces and communities.