March 03, 2004

By: Brian Huggen
Website: http://www.1st-in-kids.com

Use window guards to protect children from injury, urges Safe Kids Canada

In the wake of several recent incidents in which toddlers fell out of windows in their homes, Safe Kids Canada recommends that parents check their windows and install safety devices.

Don't assume that a window screen will protect your child, says Allyson Hewitt, Executive Director of Safe Kids Canada, the national injury prevention program of The Hospital for Sick Children. A screen will give way to the weight of a small child.

In the past week, an Ottawa child was taken to hospital with serious injuries after falling from a fifth-storey window, while two other children, in London and Calgary, escaped serious injury in falling from second-storey bedrooms. In all of these cases, the children involved were reported to be 18 months to three years old, the common age for this kind of event.

When the warm weather arrives each year, we urge families to keep in mind that their children who were just babies last winter may now be great climbers. Toddlers love to look out windows and don't understand the risks of falling, says Hewitt. Just one simple step can help keep children safe.

Only a few municipalities in Canada have local by-laws that require landlords to install window safety devices. Until other municipalities and provincial governments adopt similar measures to prevent these tragedies from occurring, Safe Kids Canada recommends parents should:

· Install a window guard, sold at hardware and some department stores, and safety specialty stores. This forms a barrier in front of the window.

· Install a device to stop the window from opening more than 10 centimetres. A child cannot fall through this small a space. A wide variety of devices are available. Simple measures could include using screws in the window frame to prevent the window from opening more than 10 centimetres.

If parents cannot use window guards, it is important to keep furniture away from windows - as well as balcony railings - to prevent young children from climbing up and falling.

About The Author:

Brian Huggen is a successful author and regular contributor to http://www.1st-in-kids.com.  Helping parents find kid-approved clothes, toys, games, books, activities and more.