After two separate incidents of children falling from windows over the long weekend, and with warmer weather in the forecast, paramedics have some important reminders for parents and caregivers:
• Prevent access to windows by moving furniture such as cribs, beds, stools, and change tables out from under them.
• Install safety devices which limit the distance in which a window can open to a maximum of 10 cm (4 inches).
• Direct supervision is the single most effective way to prevent falls from windows and balconies.
• Consider purchasing a portable air conditioner, which will enable windows in the residence to stay closed and secure.
• Remember, screens are not safety devices – they are designed to keep bugs out, not children in.
Both incidents happened Saturday in Calgary communities.
EMS says that in both cases, a young child between one and five years old, fell through a screen from an open second-storey window.
Both children were taken to hospital in stable and non-life-threatening condition suffering from varying soft-tissue injuries.
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