Spring into action to stop window falls!
With the nice weather we’ve been experiencing, hopefully you’ve had the chance to open windows this spring There’s no better time to let in fresh air and learn how to safeguard against window falls.
Window Safety Week is the first full week in April. It raises awareness of the actions parents and homeowners can take to maintain window safety and prevent falls.
Falls from windows are more common than you might think. According to a report by SafeKids Worldwide, an average of eight children, age five and younger, die and more than 3,300 are injured every year from falls out of a window.
Window Safety Tips
Follow these tips to help protect the ones you love from accidental window falls:
- Close and lock windows when young children are around.
- Use windows high enough to be out of a child’s reach when opening a window for ventilation.
- Supervise children and ensure they play away from windows, balconies and patio doors.
- Avoid placing furniture near windows to prevent young children from climbing and gaining access to an open window.
- Don’t allow children to jump on beds or other furniture.
- 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.
The Window Safety Taskforce has partnered with the National Safety Council to promote greater awareness of window safety this week! Windows rank as one of the top five hidden hazards in the home. Please practice window safety year-round and share the message with family members to protect the ones you love.
Happy Spring!
Want more safety tips? Check out our post on National Drug and Alcohol Facts Week.
Brenda Lovitz, Risk & Safety Manager
