Window Falls

Air Date: 7/14/2003

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One of the first thoughts many parents have when handed their squirming newborn for the first time is: “Gosh, I hope I don’t drop this baby!”

Seldom does that happen, but, gravity being what it is, kids are going to fall down plenty on their own. Kids usually bounce back just fine from such tumbles. It is the spills from high off the ground and onto hard surfaces that are most likely to cause serious injuries, especially to the head.

Falls are the primary reason children visit emergency rooms. Kids 10 and under are at greatest risk because their curiosity, combined with their still-developing motor skills, can lead them into danger.

With infants, the greatest risks are falls from furniture, stairs, and baby walkers. Toddlers fall from windows more often, and older children tend to be injured in falls from playground equipment. Reducing some of these injuries is easy; preventing others requires more complicated measures, but nearly all injuries from falls are prevent-able.

Stop The Falls…

Learn how you can save a child’s life by preventing window falls

Screens will not stop a child from falling out of a window
Take furniture away from windows
Open windows from the top, not the bottom
Purchase and install window-fall prevention products

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Falls from windows can be prevented
Any opening in a window should NOT exceed four inches
Lock all unopened windows and doors
Local home improvement and hardware stores carry window fall prevention products
Supervise children at all times

At the Window

Plunges from windows are more likely to kill or severely injure a child than other kinds of falls. Even a first-floor window can be a considerable distance from the ground. A window, open only five inches is wide enough for a typical 9-year-old to fall through.

One thing you can do is to keep windows closed and locked when young children are around. Unfortunately, this is not practical if you want fresh air in your home. (Never rely on window screens to keep kids from falling out. They are not strong enough— they are designed only to keep bugs from coming in.)

A better option is to open only those windows high enough to be out of your child’s reach. A double-hung window can be opened from the top, for example. In addition, make sure you do not position beds, chairs, or other furniture close enough to windows so your child could use them to reach the window ledge.

Installing window guards is a good idea, especially on windows above the first story. These are available at most hardware stores. One caution, though: If you put them on windows to be used as exits in case of fire, the guards should have a quick-release device adults can open easily from inside.

As is the case with other causes of injuries, window falls can be prevented if children are carefully super-vised.

Facts

• More than 80 percent of fall-related injuries among children ages four and under occur in the home.
• Children are more likely to die or be severely injured from window-related falls than falls associated with any other product.
• Each year, more than 2.5 million children ages 14 and under are treated in hospital emergency rooms for fall-related injuries. Children ages five and under account for more than half of these injuries.
• Children living in apartment buildings have the highest number of window fall incidents; five times more than children living in residences.
• The majority of falls occur between noon and early evening, the most common playtime for children.
• Even first story windows can pose hazards and should be considered for safety precautions.

Tips to Keep Children Safe from Window Falls

• Constantly supervise children.
• Move chairs, cribs, beds and other furniture away from windows and draperies. Remember that children can fall from windows opened as little as five inches.
• Use window locks or guards.
• Never rely on window screens to prevent falls. Window screens can easily give way to the weight of a child, and to a curious unsuspecting child.

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