Spring is here and we are opening the windows to let in that warm breeze (when it isn’t snowing, that is)! The week of April 2-8 is National Window Safety Week, which is the time of year that the National Safety Council warns parents and those who have young children in the house to prevent accidental window falls.
Falls from a window can result in serious injury or death and pose an especially dangerous threat for children. Every year, about eight children under age five die each year from falling out a window, and more than 3,300 are injured seriously enough to go to the hospital.*
To protect children, the Window Safety Task Force offers the following eight safety tips:
1. When young children are around, keep windows closed and locked.
2. When opening a window for ventilation, use those located out of a child’s reach. For example, the upper sash of a double hung window.
3. Avoid placing furniture near windows to prevent young children from climbing.
4. Don’t allow children to jump on beds or other furniture to help reduce potential falls.
5. Don’t rely on insect screens to prevent a window fall. Insect screens are designed to keep bugs out, not to keep children in the home.
6. Supervise children to keep child’s play away from windows, balconies or patio doors. Keep play in the center of a room, if possible.
7. Install code-compliant devices designed to limit how far a window will open or window guards (with quick-release mechanisms in case of fire) to help prevent a fall.
8. Teach your child how to safely use a window to escape during an emergency, such as a fire.
Visit www.aamanet.org/windowsafety to learn more. Follow the Window Safety Task Force on Twitter and Facebook for more tips and updates on this important safety issue.
* According to Safe Kids Worldwide’s 2015 Report to the Nation: Protecting Children in Your Home
