The leading cause of injuries among children five years of age and younger is falling, with approximately fifteen thousand kids under the age of eleven falling from windows each year in the United States. On average, fifteen to twenty of those falls are fatal. According to emergency medicine specialists at Cincinnati Children’s, kids that live in urban areas are at an especially high risk for window falls. These injuries are so common that an entire week in April is dedicated to window safety each year in the United States of America. Keeping kids safe is a year-round job, however, and requires constant vigilance. These tips can help you prevent window falls in your home, so you can keep the little ones in your life safe from harm.

Keep Furniture Away from Windows

Placing cribs, beds and dressers near a window provides curious little explorers with access to sills that might ordinarily be out of reach. While your design scheme might depend upon a specific placement of furniture, it’s still essential that you keep anything kids can climb on or around away from the windows in their rooms. Even the most docile kids will find a reason to scale the furniture the moment an adult’s back is turned, and the last thing you want is for them to end up near a window when they do.

Install Window Safety Guards

Windows that can’t be utilized as an escape route in the event of a fire or emergency that would require evacuation should be fitted with child safety window guards that keep kids from opening far enough to slip through and fall. The state of Massachusetts actually recommends that all homes with kids under the age of six be equipped with some form of window guard. There are models commercially available that can be removed quickly by an adult in the event of an emergency, and these options should be installed over windows along your evacuation or escape route. Before you spring for safety guards and window stops, make sure that you check with the United States Consumer Product Safety Commission for important safety and recall information.

Don’t Rely on Screens

Window screens allow breezes to flow through your home through an open window and keep flying insects from coming in with them. They’re not, however, at all effective in terms of window safety. Even the strongest screens can be easily pushed out of a window, leading to a potentially dangerous fall if a child is leaning on that screen. Make sure that you’re not relying on the screens installed within your window to act as a barrier against accidental falls.

Know the Difference Between Window Guards and Security Bars

While security bars and window guards are not the same thing nor do they serve the same purpose, they’re commonly confused. The placement of security bars designed to protect your home against intruders is wide enough to allow a small child to slip through, and the design of window guards is not intended to protect against intruders. It’s important to understand the difference between the two, both to keep your children safe from falls and to guard your home.

Supervise Kids Carefully

While it’s important to always keep a close eye on the kids under your care, it’s especially important when they’re in rooms above the ground floor and are capable of opening a window. Make sure that you never leave a child in a room unattended when a window is open, and that all windows are locked and carefully secured to prevent little fingers from opening them.

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