SEATTLE MWEATHER WINDOWS

SEATTLE MWEATHER WINDOWS

Consider placing shrubs, bark, or grass under windows to reduce potential falls.

Do not allow children to sit on window sills or jump from window sills to furniture.

Move beds, chairs, tables, and other furniture away from windows – these can allow a young child to climb the sill.

For other windows, inexpensive window stops can be installed on windows that open horizontally to prevent them from opening more than 4 inches.

Many hardware stores will special-order these guards and they are widely available on the Internet. These guards cost as little as $20 and are designed to swing open for escape in the event of a fire.

For windows that you have to open completely, commercially available window guards can be installed to prevent children from falling.

If possible, open the windows from above instead of below.

When possible, keep windows closed in rooms where children play.

The screen is designed to pop out for fire safety, so the weight of a toddler can easily push one through. They can provide a false sense of security, which can contribute to risk aversion.

Remember that window curtains do not prevent children from falling out of the window.

Here are some tips for preventing falls from Harborview:

If a child falls through a window, try not to move it and call 911 immediately, Guzman said. If a soft surface such as an awning, shrubbery or bark breaks from a fall, the risk is reduced, she said. “Many new homes in our area have bedrooms on the third floor and there is an increased chance of a child being seriously injured by falling from the third story versus the first or second story,” she said in an email. Children who land on concrete are more likely to be seriously injured.Īmong children treated at Harborview, more than 85% percent fell from windows that had screens.Īccording to Guzmán, factors such as the size of the child, how far the child falls and what the child lands on, greatly affect their outcome. Brian Johnson, the hospital’s chief pediatrician.Īccording to Harborview, serious head injuries are common, as are facial fractures, neck and abdominal injuries, and fractures in the arms and legs. At Harborview Medical Center, about 40 to 50 children are admitted each year after falling from an open window, said Dr. J1圆1fHtFhĪccording to Harbourview’s Injury Prevention and Research Center, a third of children hospitalized after a window collapse require intensive care, and one in four children return home with some form of disability.

Never open a window more than 4 inches apart. Help us spread the word by sharing these prevention tips with others:

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