COMFORTEX OBSERVES WINDOW COVERING SAFETY MONTH Child Safety and Family Friendly Window Treatments in the Spotlight This October

MAPLEWOOD, NY - We all know that a home can pose many hazards to young children, but did you know that window treatments are among them? In fact, statistics reveal that multiple children die each year from strangulation injuries involving window shade cords. These are deaths that could have been prevented with child safe window treatments and preventative safety measures.

For the fourth year in a row, Comfortex Window Fashions has joined the window treatment industry and major retailers across the country to observe National Window Covering Safety Month. During October, Comfortex is helping to raise consumer awareness about pull cord dangers.

Comfortex strives to make its window coverings as child friendly as possible by offering a variety of products and safety features designed to add style to homes as well as bring peace of mind to parents and caregivers. “We are committed to child safety,” said Comfortex Executive Vice President John C. Fitzgerald, “Comfortex was the first company to introduce a cordless cellular shade to the marketplace and we are continuing to develop solutions that improve child safety in window fashions.”

Child Safe Window Treatments from Comfortex Offer Consumers More Options

Chordless Ultra™ Cellular Shades are the premier child safe choice from Comfortex, combining the style and functionality of a cellular shade with the beauty of cord-free operation. Instead of relying on cords, which can entangle small children, a gentle push or pull on the bottom rail is all that’s needed to raise and lower the shade.

The Chordless Ultra Hardware System is currently available in five cellular fabric styles, Symphony® Double Honeycomb, Matinee™ Room Darkening, Virtuoso® 1/2-Inch Single Honeycomb, Baritone™ 3/4-Inch Single Honeycomb and Light Filtering Blackout fabrics. These energy efficient cordless shades create elegant treatments which are beautifully child safe.

Corded cellular and pleated shades from Comfortex are also safeguarded. The exclusive Breakthrough Cord Connector snaps open when pressure is applied to the cord loop should a child become entangled. Although it is essential to keep cords out of the reach of small children, this exclusive Comfortex component adds an extra measure of protection by coming apart in an emergency. Woodwinds® Wood Alloy Blinds also employ a similar cord feature which is activated by excessive pull forces.

All Comfortex Verticals may be fabricated without pull cords. Tilt wand options on Ballet™ Performance Drapery Sheers, Harmony® Cellular Verticals and Stardust® Soft Sheer Verticals yield cord-free blinds. Not only are these verticals child safe, they are easy to operate. And since all of these designs are made without weights and bottom chains, these innovative verticals are safe for children and pets alike.

“We know that replacing window treatments is not a viable option for everyone, so we offer ways to secure loose cords,” said Fitzgerald. Comfortex suggests making existing shades and blinds more child safe with the addition of cord cleats and cord tensioners, both offered free of charge from Comfortex. To use a cord cleat, install the device high and out of the reach of small children and then wind excess cord around it. This prevents children from becoming entangled in the dangling cord. For a window treatment with a cord loop, install a cord tensioner to keep the cord taught and to prevent it from twisting and tangling.

For more window treatment safety tips, visit www.comfortex.com.

Comfortex Window Fashions, founded in 1986, is an innovator in the window fashion industry. Thomas J. Marusak serves as President of Comfortex Corporation, and is also one of the original founders of the company. The company maintains its headquarters just north of Albany, in Maplewood, New York, and operates manufacturing facilities in Melbourne, Florida and Phoenix, Arizona. The Comfortex complete line of cellular, roller, Roman and pleated shades, wood alloy blinds, plantation shutters, sheer window shadings and verticals is distributed in every state in the United States and in over 50 countries on five continents worldwide. Comfortex Window Fashions is committed to exceeding customer expectations by providing quality products and services, establishing excellent customer partnerships, developing innovative technologies and remaining a respected name in the window treatment industry.