Window Safety

In the last few weeks, there have been four incidents where children have fallen out of windows, and have been seriously injured or killed.  So far in 2012, more than 10 children in BC have been taken to hospital after falling out of a window.

Most of these incidents have involved toddlers.  As part of our Babysitter Training course, we teach that toddlers are an age group that are curious and love to climb and explore, but have no idea about safety.  As a result, they are the age at the most risk of falling out of windows, as they are unaware of the danger to themselves.

Two of the recent incidents involve children falling through screen windows.  Parents need to remember that screens are not strong enough to support the weight of a small child, and should not be used a safety measure to keep children from falling through windows.

Here are some great tips for protecting young children from falls from windows, provided by the BC Ambulance Service and BC Children’s Hospital:

• Move household furniture away from windows to keep children climbing up on the furniture to look out of windows.
• Install window guards on windows higher than ground level so that the windows cannot open more than 10 cm (4 in), since children can fit through spaces as small as 12 cm (5 in) wide.  Ensure the window guards have a safe-release option in case of a house fire.  Window guards should be installed as soon as you have children in your home.
• Do not leave children unsupervised on balconies or decks.  Keep all furniture and planters away from the edges as children can climb onto them and risk a fall over the edge of the balcony or deck.
• Talk to you children, in an age-appropriate manner, about the dangers of opening and playing near windows, especially on upper floors of the house.
• Finally, the best way to prevent an accident is ongoing supervision.  Don’t leave a young child unattended, or rely on a safety item to keep them safe.

With the recent hot weather, many people are leaving doors and windows open, which is increasing the risk for accidents involving falls from windows.  Following a few safety precautions can ensure that tragic accidents are avoided.