Window Covering Industry Encourages Families to Turn Awareness into Action

New York, NY (October 1, 2026) – This October, the Window Covering Safety Council (WCSC) is urging parents and caregivers to put awareness into action by replacing older corded window coverings with today’s safer ‎cordless products.

Corded window coverings are a top hidden hazard in the home, posing a strangulation risk to young children, according to the Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC). To raise awareness, October is designated as Window Covering Safety Month. 

Efforts to increase awareness of this danger are clear but action at home is needed. WCSC’s 2026 national survey found that 84% of households with children recognize that ‎pull cords can pose a strangulation hazard, yet only 27% have replaced corded blinds with ‎cordless alternatives.‎

“Many existing homes still have older corded window coverings which could lead to an accident in mere seconds. Cordless products remove that risk completely,” said Ralph Vasami, Executive Director, Window Covering Safety Council‎. “Replacing older window coverings with today’s safer options is an easy update which can prevent tragedies.”

Two historic safety standards took effect in 2018 and 2024 to ensure that the vast majority of custom window coverings and stock products sold in the U.S. are cordless. These safety standards significantly reduce the strangulation risk posed by corded window coverings to young children, but action must be taken to replace older corded products still lurking in homes.

The Window Covering Safety Council recommends the following guidelines for window covering safety:

• Replace all corded products with cordless window coverings in homes with young children.
• Look for the Best for Kids™certification label on packaging at all major U.S. retailers. This mark signifies that products have gone through third-party testing and are designed for homes with young children.
• If the corded window coverings can’t be replaced with today’s safer cordless products at this time, parents and caregivers should check for the following:
• Keep all window covering cords well out of the reach of children. Eliminate any dangling cords.
• Move all cribs, beds, furniture, and toys away from windows and window covering cords, preferably to another wall.
• Make certain that tasseled pull cords are out of reach of children and are as short as possible.
• Continuous-loop cords on draperies and vertical blinds should be permanently anchored to the floor or wall and be kept under tension at all times.
• Check that cord stops are properly installed and adjusted to limit the movement of inner lift cords.
• Check the WCSC website for helpful tips on window covering cord safety

Share the word: Downloadable graphics, videos, sample posts and a childproofing checklist are available in WCSC’s tool kit.

For more information on window covering cord safety, ‎visit www.windowcoverings.org.