Following a recent incident involving a young child who fell from a second story window, the Snoqualmie Fire Department is reminding residents about steps they can take to prevent accidental window falls and protect small children.
According to Public Health Seattle & King County, each year nearly 5,000 children are injured after falling out of a window, with most falls happening during the spring and summer months when windows are open. Most children who fall are between the ages of 2 and 5.
Follow these steps to prevent window falls:
- Always supervise small children.
- Do not open windows more than 4 inches.
- If possible, open windows from the top down.
- Move furniture away from windows.
- Install window stops or releasable child-safety window guards.
- Never rely on window screens to prevent falls. Screens are designed to pop out for fire safety, and the weight of a toddler can easily push out a screen.
You can also watch a helpful video on preventing window falls from UW Medicine.