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Tips for Creating
a Safer Home |
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(ARA) - How securely attached
are the screens in your windows? Would they stop a playful puppy
from tumbling out ... or an intruder from getting into your home?
Does your family regularly practice how to handle emergencies,
such as stove fires, sudden violent storms or burst pipes? Would
your children know how to unlock a window and escape from a fire?
When you have a family, there's a lot to think about. Building
a safe, secure home is one of the top priorities for all parents.
From selecting reliable products during the construction of a
home to monitoring children at play, creating a safe environment
is an ongoing task for parents.
Whether you're thinking about
building a new home or renovating a cherished, older home, Simonton
Windows, a leading manufacturer of quality vinyl windows and
patio doors, has some advice for you. The experts encourage you
to give top priority to selecting products that protect your
family -- from storms, intruders and unforeseen accidents. |
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If you think that windows are just
the pieces of glass that allow light and air to flow in and out
of your home, think again. Have you ever researched the best
styles of windows to have in a home with small children? Do you
know what type of glass you should have in windows to help prevent
noise penetration and discourage intruders? Are your utility
bills soaring because your current windows lack energy efficiency
features?
Knowing your windows means knowing how to create a safer home
for your family. Take this fast and easy window test to learn
how safe your home is:
Question #1 -- When was the last time your entire family
held a practice nighttime fire drill in your home?
Answer -- Experts recommend practicing safety drills regularly
-- at least twice a year -- and in the dark, without the aid
of electricity that may fail in a fire. Small children tend to
"hide" from fire, so make sure your children are familiar
with escape routes, have flashlights near their beds and know
how to move quickly out of the home. Also, establish a meeting
location away from the house to assure that family members can
be accounted for after exiting the home.
Question #2 -- How much do you allow windows to be opened
to increase air flow in your home?
Answer -- While gaining ventilation is important in the home,
so is safety. If you have pets or small children, realize that
window screens are intended just to keep insects outside, not
to hold children inside. Screens will not support the weight
of a child or frisky pet.
For added safety in your home, consider opening just the top
sash of a double hung window for ventilation. Or, install windows,
such as those from Simonton, that offer ventilation locks that
allow the window to be partially opened for fresh air while remaining
securely locked.
Question #3 -- During the holidays, do you staple decorations
or lights to the inside of your windows, have candles lit in
the windows or use spray foam "snow" on the windows?
Answer -- Windows are not constructed to serve as "hitching
posts" for holiday decorations. Anytime you nail or staple
into them -- or attach decorative accessories directly to the
glass -- you're compromising the structure and safety of the
unit itself. Melted wax on window frames can damage the sills
and seep into the frame, making it difficult to open. Lights
attached to the frame serve as a safety hazard, both from an
electrical standpoint and by hampering egress from the home.
Want to play it safe? Decorate around windows during the holidays,
not on them.
Question #4: Does your nighttime and pre-vacation checklist
include locking all windows?
Answer -- Make certain to keep windows locked when not at home
and in the evenings (especially in children's rooms) to prevent
a "quiet thief" from entering your home. While most
glass in windows can be broken with a crowbar or baseball bat
(except impact resistant glass found in some window units), intruders
don't like to make noise. So, the first way to keep your family
safe and secure is simply to get in the habit of keeping windows
and doors locked when not in use.
If you live in an area prone to active children or potential
crime, order windows with tempered safety glass -- at least for
the first floor of the home. Two panes of glass are adhered to
a durable plastic interlayer, much like a car windshield. So,
if a stray baseball hits a window, the glass will shatter, but
broken pieces remain adhered to the interlayer, preventing glass
fallout inside the home. The plastic interlayer is also puncture-resistant,
frustrating potential intruders.
Question #5: Are any pieces of furniture in your home
blocking windows or positioned so that curious children can use
them as climbing vehicles?
Answer -- If you have children younger than 8 years of age, reexamine
the placement of furniture in every room of your home. You want
to keep furniture (including cribs), or anything children can
climb on, away from windows. Especially in rooms above the first
floor, make certain you're not providing easy ways for children
to lean out windows. It's also important to keep window access
clear in case of an emergency so that exiting can be fast and
easy. |
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Author: |
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For more window safety tips, call
(800) SIMONTON to request a free copy of the easy-to-read,
eight-page booklet, "A few things to think about when thinking
about your home." |
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