With over two decades of experience, we have become experts in testing products for safety. Who We Are and Why We do it. PARENTS FOR WINDOW BLIND SAFETY·
In June of 2002, Matt and Linda Kaiser peeked into their twin’s bedroom before the couple turned in for the night. The Kaisers, along with their 4-year-old daughter, loved to watch the fraternal twins sleep. They would whisper to each other how cute and perfect Seth and Cheyenne looked all snuggled up in their blankets. It was a nightly routine for the Kaiser family to peek in the twin's bedroom and tiptoe in over the little ones as they slept. On this summer night, what they found was horrific. Their little girl was hanging from the inner cord of the window blind. She was limp and cool to the touch. There was no heartbeat. Cheyenne Rose May 25th, 2001 - June 12th, 2002
After all the baby-proofing the Kaiser’s did to their home, even keeping the cords out of reach of their children, safety tips did not prevent this horrific loss from occurring. The Kaisers had no idea this type of accident could occur. They later learned that on many window covering products, back in the early 2000s inner cords could be pulled out even if the pull cords were placed out of a child’s reach. The industry has since corrected this product defect. After the dust from the funeral settled, the Kaiser’s were informed that Cheyenne’s accident was not a freak accident. Children were injured on cords every week and dying every month. Weeks later, after receiving a call from the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission, Linda Kaiser sorted through a knee-high pile of In-Depth Investigation Reports related to over 350 accidents showing children who silently strangled on various corded window covering products, many with properly placed safety devices, that failed. In Nover 2002, Parents for Window Blind Safety, a national 501 C (3) non-profit organization, was founded by The Kaisers. Our Mission
PFWBS mission is to:
Educate the public about the hazards of window covering cords in homes, daycare facilities, and military housing
Collect injury and product data to pinpoint hazard factors
Help create safer standards and encourage innovation of safer products in the industry
Test window covering products for safety
Support parents in all aspects of their grief
Today, children, even as old as 7 years of age, are victims of hazardous cords that passed through industry policed ANSI safety testing. Since 1980, the US Consumer Product Safety Commission has a record of over 603 strangulation injuries and deaths in the USA. Over 10 years ago, Parents for Window Blind Safety began testing products for safety due to consumer confusion in the marketplace. Many boxes were marked “Child Safe” but had included hazardous cords or safety devices that failed. The Seal of Approval Program created an identifying mark and brought stories of survival and hope to the consumer. The program bridges the gap between manufacturers, retailers, and advocates giving a universal way to connect and educate the public. Testing is not only in a third-party lab against strict safety criteria, but products are also reviewed for quality by the PFWBS Testing Committee. Look for our Seal in stores, website, and products. Our Accomplishments
PFWBS Advocacy Over Time
Centralized injury hazard patterns, manufacturing data, product data, and injury reports into one location creating a library of information to ensure accurate reporting. Developed the first independent certification testing program in 2005 on window coverings to guide consumer buying choices and ensure product quality and safety. Opened chapters in the United Kingdom and Canada
Advocated in Canada for strong standards due in December 2018
Advocated for stronger warning label pictorials in standard development meetings. New labels out in December 2018
Advocated for stronger standards in the industry from 2002 to the present. New cordless standard for stock products released December 2018. Written and Co-Produced an educational video with over 1 million views on YouTube. Continuing to build relationships between advocates, retailers, fabricators and manufacturers to create a universal message. Linda Kaiser has actively participated on technical committees for the development of safety standards for window coverings in the USA and Canada for the past decade. She continues to work behind the scenes with manufacturers, government officials, retailers, and parents to create safe environments for children. PFWBS has been featured in Parents Magazine, Consumer Reports, Fox News, CNN, NightlLine, Today Show, Chicago Tribune, New York Times, USA TODAY, as well as hundreds of other national and international newspapers. If you are a parent who is in need of help, please contact us. Our worldwide support group for families affected by cord injuries can be found in our group section.
