Over the weekend, there was a breaking news story of a Vancouver toddler who climbed out a third floor bedroom window, made his way onto the roof, and fell to the ground. The child has been listed in good condition as of Sunday evening.
Thankfully, this incident had a happy ending, but it could have ended in tragedy. According to Safe Kids USA, window falls account for approximately 8 deaths and 3,300 injuries among children ages 5 and under annually.
Here are window fall prevention tips from Safe Kids USA:
- Do not rely on window screens to prevent falls.
- Keep windows closed and locked when not in use.
- Keep furniture that children could climb on away from windows.
Safe Kids USA also recommends installing window guards or window stops. For windows on the sixth floor and below, install window guards with emergency release devices in case of fire. Window stops should be placed in windows to allow them to open no more than four inches.
For more information on fall prevention visit the Safe Kids USA website. To find out about the campaign to stop window falls, visit the Stop At 4 website.
Hear the KXL radio interview about window safety tips
