I have window guards (gates) and am putting locks on them for the safety of my children. Where do I put the keys? They’d need to be somewhere where the children can use them in case of fire, but I don’t want the keys to be lost.
Our Answer
Stop! Think! Locking window guards are extremely unsafe and a REALLY bad idea. I’m not sure why you need guards but they are generally used for one of two purposes: either to prevent break-ins or to prevent young children from falling out of a window. In either case, properly installed guards have a keyless, quick-release mechanism that can be opened up from the inside of the windows so that children cannot possibly be trapped in the event of a devastating fire.
There is about zero chance that keys, even if kept nearby, can be found and used in the panic and thick, dense smoke of a fire. Never, ever padlock these window guards shut.
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