Observed annually during the first full week in April, National Window Safety Week is designed to heighten the awareness of what can be done to help keep families safe from the risk of accidental falls or injuries in the home. While National Window Safety Week is observed annually, safety education occurs throughout the year.
Windows play a vital role in home safety, serving as a secondary escape route in the event of a fire or other emergency, but they can also pose a risk for a fall if safety measures are not followed. Follow these guidelines to prevent window-related injuries in the home:
- Keep windows closed and locked when children are around
- When opening windows for ventilation, open windows that children cannot reach
- Don't rely on insect screens to prevent a fall, as they are designed to provide ventilation and not to prevent a child's fall from a window
- Keep furniture, or anything children can climb, away from windows
- Determine your family's emergency escape plan and practice it regularly
- Make sure nothing is blocking or preventing a window from being opened in the case of an emergency
The Window Safety Task Force of the National Safety Council strives to provide educational information and heighten safety awareness to help consumers take the necessary action to prevent the risk of window falls and to understand the vital role windows and doors play in fire safety.
Working in conjunction with the National Safety Council, trade associations and their representatives from the window, door and screen manufacturing industries are voluntarily teaming up to help educate and inform the public of the importance of taking proactive measures to enhance safety in the home.