National Window Safety Week is April 20-26
We often overlook them, or, more to the point, see right through them, but windows play a vital role in home safety, serving as a secondary escape route in the event of a fire or other emergency. The Window Safety Task Force of the National Safety Council remind us that windows also can pose a risk of a fall in the home if other safety measures are not followed. These are two of the issues the task force will be drawing attention to during the upcoming National Window Safety Week, April 20-26.
Recognizing the important role windows play in emergencies, legislators throughout the United States have mandated building codes requiring that specific windows be designated as points of escape. The size and placement of windows designated as points of escape in a residence are also governed by building codes. The ability to easily open windows and remove insect screens without special knowledge or tools is critical to safely escape through a window.
The Window Safety Task Force is comprised of members representing the National Fire Protection Association, the American Architectural Manufacturers Association, the Window & Door Manufacturers Association, the Screen Manufacturers Association, and other organizations. It was formed in 1997 to promote greater awareness of window safety and has compiled a variety of materials and safety tips on the subject, including facts about window falls, a window safety checklist, a primer on window safety and lead, other brochures, and a children's window safety activity and coloring book. The materials are free and downloadable at www2.nsc.org/News/window.aspx.