Window Safety Week

National Window Safety Week is the first full week in April, which coincides with the arrival of spring and this year's season for "Heart Hunting". Heart hunting began with a mom who wanted to promote social distancing while doing an activity with her children. Now, it has grown into much, much more. Heart Hunters are creating connections across the country, restoring hope, normality and providing a sense of home.  

While families are creatively decorating their windows, it is a great time for children to understand the role of windows in escaping a fire or other emergency and to learn how to safeguard against window falls. 

According to the Window Safety Task Force and the National Safety Council, "Fires and falls of all kinds are among the leading causes of injury and death in young children. While some falls occur from windows, it’s important to realize that in a fire, a window can save a child’s life. That is why windows play a critical role in home safety." 

While cutting craft paper and painting hearts, talk with your family and determine an emergency fire escape plan. Include two avenues of escape from every room and remember children may have to rely on a window to escape a fire. Help your children learn how to safely use a window in the event of a fire.  

When it comes time to hang the hearts in the windows, educate your children about window safety.  Let them know they should never open a window by themselves nor push on window screens.  Additionally, enforcing rules about keeping activities and play away from windows will help keep your children safe.  

Keep in mind, while window safety education is essential, it is critical for parents to take safety precautions such as keeping windows closed and locked when children are around. The National Safety Council also recommends:

• Inspecting windows annually, making sure windows are not painted or nailed shut. In the event of an emergency, windows must be able to open to escape.
• Do not install window unit air conditioners in windows that may be needed for escape or rescue in an emergency. The air conditioning unit could block or impede escape through the window.
• Always be sure that there is at least one window in each sleeping and living area that meets escape and rescue requirements

Now that you have some window safety tips and educated your children about window safety while crafting hearts, be sure to share your heart hunter photos with us on our Facebook page in the post comments!