Protect Your Children from Window Falls

When the weather warms up, it's a good idea to open the windows and allow some fresh air to circulate throughout your home.

And, while the fresh air is nice, keep in mind that open windows are a safety hazard for children.

"Windows are a tripping hazard for children, and the consequences can be severe," Jessica Strong, community health manager at Intermountain Primary Children's Hospital, said. "Window screens are an excellent way to keep bugs out but children in."

How frequently do kids fall out of windows?

In the United States alone, nearly 15,000 children are injured each year by falling out of windows. The falls were frequently caused by a child leaning against a window screen.

After falling out of a window, one out of every four children is hospitalized. This is because children are more likely than adults to sustain serious injuries after falling out of a window.

Although window screens help protect the interior of the home from bugs and other pests, they were also designed to easily pop out in the event of a fire or other emergency, allowing people to escape. As a result, they don’t provide any support and give way easily with moderate pressure.

How can I keep my child from falling out a window?

So, how can you keep your children from falling out of a window? Here are some pointers to help you keep your home safe:

1. Close and lock the windows.
2. Before opening a window, make sure it is out of reach of children.
3. Keep furniture and other items that children can climb on away from windows.
4. Teach children to open windows only with permission and assistance from adults.
5. Install window locks, guards, or other safety equipment to prevent children from opening windows too wide – or at all – without the assistance of an adult.
6. Remember, window screens will not keep your children from falling out of an open window.

Other tips to keep kids safe from window falls

Other suggestions include locking or closing rarely used windows and ensuring that windows used for ventilation are safe for children - especially if you live in a high-rise or apartment complex with multiple levels. But keep in mind that falls from one-story and first-floor homes and apartments can still result in serious injuries. Try a variety of childproofing techniques to see what works best for you and your family.

"Keeping children away from open windows is the best way to keep them safe from window falls," Strong says. "Although there are precautions that can be taken, it is important to remember that there is no substitute for adult supervision." The majority of window falls happen when children are alone."