Window Safety
Always watch children around windows:
- Remember that window screens are meant to keep insects out; they are not made to keep children in.
- Keep windows closed and locked when kids are around.
- Place furniture away from windows, so kids cannot use them as climbing aids.
- When using windows for ventilation, use ones that children cannot reach.
Consider installing window guards – make sure they have a release mechanism for use in a fire emergency.
Window may need to be used as a secondary escape route during fires or emergencies:
- Make sure you have at least one window in every sleeping and living area that meets escape and rescue requirements.
- Never paint or nail a window shut. You must be able to open windows to use them for escape in an emergency.
- Only place air conditioners in windows that do not serve as secondary escape routes in emergencies.
Dress your windows with care:
- Inspect your window coverings for cords and loops that could pose a strangulation risk to children.
- Tie blind cords up and out of a child’s reach.
- Avoid using stickers and cling-on decorations that draw children to play near windows.
- Make sure if you have security bars on your windows, they have a release mechanism that works in case you need to use them as an emergency escape route.
Prevent window falls:
- Install window guards to prevent children from falling out of windows. For windows above the first floor, install window guards with an emergency release device in case of fire.
- Install window stops so that windows open no more than four inches.
- Keep windows locked and closed when they are not being used.
- Keep furniture away from windows so kids cannot climb to the ledge.
- If you have double-hung windows — the kind that can open down from the top as well as up from the bottom — it is generally safer to open the top pane, but growing kids may have enough strength, dexterity and curiosity to open the bottom pane.
- Do not rely on window screens to prevent falls.
- Keep windows locked when they are closed.
- Supervise children at all times, especially around open windows.
- Never try to move a child who appears to be seriously injured after a fall — call 911 and let trained medical personnel move the child with proper precautions.
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