COLUMBUS, OHIO – In conjunction with June’s National Safety Month, sponsored by the National Safety Council, experts at Simonton Windows remind homeowners it is always important to practice window safety.
“Especially in households with young children, window safety should be a primary concern on a daily basis,” says Gary Pember, vice president of marketing for Simonton Windows. “We recommend that parents adopt an extremely cautious attitude with children and the windows in their home.
"At a young age, children should be taught to stay away from windows for their own safety. Parents can help safeguard children in the home by keeping furniture (including cribs) and anything else a child can climb on, away from windows. And, if your home has Double Hung windows, open only the top sash of the window that children cannot reach, to allow for ventilation.”
Pember offers these timely tips for window safety in the home:
Tip #1 – In the case of a fire, develop and practice emergency exit strategies for everyone in the family. Make sure second floor bedrooms have approved safety chain ladders.
Tip #2 - Remember the primary purpose of a window screen is to keep insects outside. Never push on screens, as they are not designed to support the weight of a child or family pet.
Tip #3 - Lock windows when not in use to protect against intruders and make it more difficult for curious young children to open windows.
Tip #4 - Do not paint or nail windows shut. Every window in the home that is designed to be opened should be operational in case of an emergency.
Tip #5 - Refrain from nailing or attaching decorative lights to the interior or exterior of window frames or sash.
Tip #6 - Plant shrubs or grass, and place “soft landscaping” like bark or mulch, directly underneath windows to help lessen the impact should someone accidently fall out of a window.
In addition to using “safe window practices” in the home, Pember recommends consumers consider selecting windows with Simonton’s SafePoint™ impact-resistant glass.
Similar in design to impact-resistant glass packages found in code-driven coastal area homes, SafePoint glass offers no-effort protection for the home, 24/7.
“The investment in this glass package pays off in so many ways,” says Pember. “In addition to helping protect the home, this laminated glass package provides excellent energy efficiency and serves as an effective barrier against heat transfer.
“This glass can actually help play a significant role in lower heating and cooling costs for the home throughout the year while keeping the interior comfortable. And, SafePoint glass screens out much of the sun’s harmful ultraviolet rays that can damage carpets, furnishings and artwork.”
For information, call (800) SIMONTON (1-800-746-6686) or visit www.simonton.com.
