Coral Springs, FL – April 7, 2020 –  Every year, more than 3300 children younger than 5 years of age are treated in U.S. hospital emergency departments for injuries related to falls from windows – that’s about 9 children every day. Older children are also injured from window falls, but less frequently. In support of National Window Safety Week, Pediatric Associates Foundation is asking parents and caregivers to make sure their windows are safer for their children.

New sights and sounds can attract children to windows, but playing near a window can be dangerous. It only takes a second for a child to fall out of a window, which can cause head and brain injuries, broken bones, and even death.

Pediatric Associates Foundation suggests the following tips to protect children from window falls.

• Install it. Screens are not strong enough to keep a child from falling. They are only designed to keep bugs out, not kids in. Installing window guards or stops is the best way to prevent a child from falling out of an open window. Experts recommend leaving the guards and stops in place until children are at least 11 years old.
• Move it. Prevent children from getting to windows by moving items they can climb on, such as beds, dressers, and shelves, away from windows.
• Lock it. Keep windows locked when they are closed. Only open windows that children can’t reach. If you have double-hung windows, only open them from the top.
• Teach it. Create a no-play zone by moving all toys and decorations away from windows. Teach children not to play in this area.

If a fall does occur: Don’t try to move your child; call 911 immediately. More prevention tips are available at www.PreventChildInjury.org.

Prevent Child Injury is a national group of organizations and individuals, including researchers, health professionals, educators, and child advocates, working together to prevent injuries to children and adolescents in the U.S. In collaboration with the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Prevent Child Injury promotes coordinated communication to the public about prevention of child injury, which is the leading cause of death of our nation’s youth. To become a member of Prevent Child Injury or for more information and resources on this and other injury topics, please visit www.PreventChildInjury.org.