Spring is a wonderful time of year. The weather warms, snow melts and nature comes out of its winter sleep. Depending on where you live, that may also come with annual spring cleaning, home maintenance and safety checks.

In addition, spring is a time of year when we utilize our windows especially often, opening them more frequently to take in the fresh air and raising our window coverings to let in the warm sunshine.

As you give your windows renewed attention, WCSC encourages you to take a moment to check that your window coverings either are cordless or have inaccessible cords, and if not, to replace them with today’s safer products. Older, corded window coverings, such as blinds, may have looped pull cords or accessible inner cords, which pose a strangulation hazard for young children who can become accidentally entangled.

If you need to replace older window coverings with new ones, look for the “Best for Kids” certified label. Products with the Best for Kids label have gone through third-party testing and are designed for use in homes with young kids.

A few other spring home safety tips:

1. Spring is a good time to check the batteries and expiration dates for your smoke and carbon monoxide detectors, the supplies in your emergency kit, as well as your fire extinguisher(s). If you have older children in the home, it’s also a good time to go over the family evacuation plan in case there is ever an emergency.
2. Make sure to read all safety labels on any products you plan to use for your spring cleaning. These labels contain important warnings about ventilation, burns and other possible chemical hazards. In addition, do a sweep of your cleaning supplies to make sure they’re stored out of the reach of children.
3. As you clean the different areas of your house, make sure you stop and examine your electrical cords to make sure there are no exposed inner wires and replace damaged cords with new cords immediately. At the same time, make sure these cords are tucked away so that they are out of the reach of children and don’t pose any sort of tripping hazard.
4. Make sure you properly turn off/on your heating/cooling systems. If you have a furnace or boiler, this process might include a professional cleaning and inspection, which should be done annually. For air conditioning units, this includes checking the unit for leaks, cleaning clogged drain lines and changing the air filter. If you’re not sure what you need to do, refer to the paperwork that came with your systems or contact a local professional.

For more childproofing tips, visit the Window Covering Safety Council’s Childproofing page.