In the warm weather we are likely to have our windows and doors open.
Our naturally curious kids enjoy this time. They love to watch everything that is going on in the street.
They press their little noses against the screen to watch the neighbour walking his dog, the woman next door mowing the lawn, the cool red motorcycle roaring down the street.
They are not calmly sitting back taking in the scene. They are leaning forward, pointing to the dog across the street, straining to see what is making a whirring noise, curious about the noisy motorcycle. They need good strong protection from the possibility of a fall.
The number of children who were treated at BC Children’s Hospital after falling from a window or balcony during the warmer weather months more than doubled in 2017 compared to the previous year.
BC Children’s cared for 15 children injured from a fall from May to September 2017, compared to seven children during the same months in 2016.
With these alarming statistics, physicians and paramedics from BC Children’s and British Columbia Emergency Health Services strongly urge parents and caregivers to ensure their windows and balconies are secure.
“When a child is injured from a window or balcony fall, it can be devastating” said Dr. Ash Singhal, pediatric neurosurgeon and medical director of BC Children’s trauma program.
“As the warmer season approaches, I strongly urge parents and caregivers to take precautions to ensure their windows and balconies are safely secure to prevent tragedies and keep our children safe.”
It’s important to realize that screens do not protect kids from falls. They keep bugs out – not children.
It takes very little to push a screen out and create a falling hazard for a young child.
It’s easy to say that it’s a good idea to move any household items or furniture away from windows but kids will find a chair they can push, crawl up on a table or go get a small stool so they can look out the window.
It’s much safer to make sure that you have bars, window guards or locks that are strong enough to withstand a child’s curiosity.
And curiosity is a strong motivator for our little ones. When they want to see what is going on outside, they will work hard to find a way to watch the passing parade outside their window.
Don’t underestimate a child’s mobility; children begin climbing before they can walk.
An open window can be a serious safety hazard for young children unless we take precautions.
Install window guards on windows above the ground level. These act as a gate in front of the window. Alternatively, fasten your windows so that they cannot open more than 10 centimetres.
Children can fit through spaces as small as 12 centimetres wide. In either case, ensure there is a safe release option for your windows in case of a house fire.
Don’t leave young children unattended on balconies or decks. In our highrise the grandchild rules are that the kids can only go on the balcony with an adult and must keep both feet on the ground at all times.
We also have the balcony doors fixed so that the kids can only get out with the help of an adult.
Move furniture or planters away from the edges to keep the kids from climbing up and over.
Talk to your children about the dangers of opening and playing near windows, particularly on upper floors of the home or in a highrise dwelling.
In the warm weather, we are often more likely to leave the door open to create a crosswind.
An open door is an invitation for an active toddler who wants to explore the world.
Recently I was in a backyard with some youngsters when we all realized that the back door and the garage door were both open.
The toddlers could have easily run through the garage and out onto the street. It only takes a minute. We closed both the garage door and the back door and all was well.
Active toddlers require vigilance but if you create a safe environment you will all have a safe summer.
Kathy Lynn is a parenting expert who is a professional speaker and author of Vive la Différence, Who’s In Charge Anyway? and But Nobody Told Me I’d Ever Have to Leave Home. If you want to read more, sign up for her informational newsletter at parentingtoday.ca.
