Stuff We Like: Keeping Kids Safe

Check out these products that are designed with your child’s safety in mind, including a high-quality and local-mom-approved fire escape ladder, cordless window shades that earn the Good Housekeeping Seal of Approval (find out how to get a free upgrade for your home’s windows), and a kid-friendly emergency preparedness plan (yes, there’s an app for that!).

PEARL fire escape ladder

In Case of Fire…

When Lisanne Reedy, a Westport, CT mom of four, set out to find a fire escape ladder for her family, she had concerns about the portable products on the market. Reedy couldn’t seem to find a ladder that was easy enough for her kids to use but high-quality enough to ease her conscience. Then she found the PEARL Ladder ($299; amostpreciouspearl.com), an emergency fire escape ladder that’s permanently installed under your window. The PEARL Ladder holds up to 1,500 pounds, works on two- or three-story windows, and includes a 15-year warranty. It can also be painted or wallpapered to match with your decor. See the website for answers to more FAQs.

 

good housekeeping cordless window shade

Cordless Chic

Good Housekeeping, which launched a comprehensive collection of custom window blinds and shades earlier this year, is encouraging parents and caregivers to replace their blinds, corded shades, and drapes with a safer product. With the hope of shedding light on the potential strangulation hazards window cords can pose, and in support of October as National Window Coverings Safety Month, Good Housekeeping Custom Blinds and Shades is offering free cordless upgrades through Oct. 31. The collection, which is backed by the Good Housekeeping Seal of Approval features a variety of window treatments with a focus on style and child safety. For more information, visit goodhousekeepingblindsandshades.com.

 

Flat Stanley and Flat Stella for FEMA

FEMA’s Flat Friends

In August, the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) welcomed two of its newest “employees” who are charged with serving as ambassadors to America’s youth: Flat Stanley and Flat Stella. As a symbol of education and literacy, FEMA’s Flat Stanley and Flat Stella are helping to teach children and their families about emergency preparedness. Stanley and Stella appear on FEMA’s website, ready.gov/kids, which provides materials and resources to help kids and their families prepare for emergency situations. You can also download the Flat Stanley app (FREE), which allows kids to create their own character and take it on a virtual tour of FEMA where they meet agency personnel, learn about field operations, and visit other families who are putting together their own emergency preparedness plans and kits. For more information, visit ready.gov/flatstanley.