Parent Experts in Product Safety gathers at the ICPHSO

What If You Could Directly Influence Life-Saving Changes In Product Designs?

The Secret to Creating Safer Homes for Your Family: Get Involved in Product Safety Standards

At Parents for Window Blind Safety (PFWBS), our mission has always been clear: to protect children by advocating for safer products. But did you know that you, as a consumer, can play an essential role in making products safer for your family? Linda Kaiser, founder of PFWBS, shared her insights during a recent interview with the American National Standards Institute (ANSI), explaining how collaboration between consumers, manufacturers, and advocacy groups can create life-saving changes in product safety.

Consumer involvement in developing product safety standards is pivotal because it helps to bridge the gap between consumer protection and business success. By contributing to the safety of products, you help protect lives, build trust, reduce liabilities, foster innovation, and support global trade. In essence, your work in this field has a profound and far-reaching impact on society as whole.   -Linda Kaiser

Her message is simple but powerful: anyone can make a difference by participating in the standards development process. Whether you’re a parent, grandparent, or simply someone passionate about safety, your voice matters.

A Personal Mission Turned into Global Change

Linda’s journey began from an unimaginable personal tragedy—the loss of her daughter Cheyenne Rose due to the inner cords of a window blind. Her grief turned into determination to ensure no other family would have to endure the same heartbreak. Today, PFWBS is a leader in advocating for cordless window coverings and has been instrumental in advancing safety standards within the industry in the United States and Canada.

By working closely with manufacturers and retailers, PFWBS has pushed for innovations that prioritize child safety. For example, partnerships with companies like Lowe’s have led to safer window-covering options in stores, empowering families to make informed, life-saving choices for their homes.

Partnering to Make Products Safer

During the 2025 ICPHSO Annual Meeting, Linda wrote a panel about the importance of collaboration between advocacy groups and retailers and manufactures. Tim Hamilton, Merchandising Vice President at Lowe’s Companies spoke on the panel highlighting the long collaboration that Lowe’s and Parents for Window Blind Safety has been involved in for the past decade. The panel, titled “Stronger Together: Harnessing the Power of Advocacy & Manufacturing for Product Safety,” highlighted a key message: working together creates better, safer products.

These partnerships often align in unexpected but impactful ways. For example:

  • Advocates bring real-world experiences and concerns to the table, shining a light on potential hazards.
  • Manufacturers innovate solutions to meet safety standards while maintaining product functionality.
  • Retailers prioritize safer options for consumers, making it easier for families to choose protection.

When these groups unite, they create a ripple effect that leads to safer homes and ultimately saves lives.

Why You Should Get Involved

As consumers, we often assume that product safety is someone else’s responsibility, but the truth is: your voice can make a difference. The standards development process allows everyday people to contribute to the safety of products we all use. Here’s how your involvement helps:

  • Protect families: Your input ensures products meet rigorous safety standards, reducing risks for children and loved ones.
  • Foster innovation:By raising safety concerns, you inspire manufacturers to create safer, more reliable products.
  • Save lives: Each standard developed or improved has a direct impact on preventing tragedies.

Programs like ANSI’s Consumer Participation Fund make it possible for individuals to join these critical discussions, even covering travel and accommodations for those who might not otherwise afford to attend.

Talking the Talk vs. Walking the Walk

It’s one thing to share posts on social media about product safety—it’s another to roll up your sleeves and actively participate in the standards development process. This is where real change happens.By joining these efforts, you’re not just raising awareness; you’re shaping the very guidelines that make products safer for families everywhere. 

When you get involved, you’re doing the work that saves lives. You’re ensuring that the products in your home—and in homes around the world—are designed with safety in mind. It’s a commitment that pays off in immeasurable ways, giving you the power to protect not just your family, but countless others.

Ready to Be Part of the Change?

If you’re ready to move from awareness to action, now is the time to step up. Join the standards development process and make your voice heard. Together, we can create a safer future for our children and loved ones.

Get involved today—visit Parents for Window Blind Safety to learn how you can help build a safer world for families everywhere.

Learn how consumer participation in product safety standards can save lives and make your home safer. Join PFWBS in creating a safer future for all families.

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