Doctors Warn Of Rise In Window Falls During Hot Weather

SEATTLE — Doctors at Harborview Medical Center are reminding parents of the dangers an open window can pose to a small child.

"This is a critical safety issue for kids," said Dr. Beth Ebel, professor for the UW Medicine Department of Pediatrics. "And it's one of the most dangerous things that we see for kids. So unexpected."

When the summer heats up, it's natural to open a window and let in a cool breeze. But doctors warn, leaving those windows open all day can pose a surprising threat.

Harborview Medical Center says every year its staff treats around 50 children who have been injured falling from open windows. The hospital has already treated five children who fell from windows over the past few weeks, one of whom died from their injuries.

“For all of us at the trauma center, this window fall tragedy is overwhelming when the
weather gets nice here,” said Ebel.

To prevent window falls, the National Safety Council recommends keeping windows locked and closed when young children are around. If you are opening a window for ventilation, they say to make sure it's one out of a child's reach and without furniture nearby that they could climb on"

Ebel also warns: window screens are not enough to protect children from falling.

“They are completely a false sense of security," Ebel said. "And I think that's when you really think about it, it's like someone putting a tiny piece of tissue paper over a gaping hole that had a pretty picture on it that you could look through. So, it actually suckers you into danger."

And if the worst does come to pass and a child does fall from a window, don't try to take matters into your own hands, call 911.

“One of the common things I've seen here is folks, when they're really worried or someone's injured, they put them in the car, and they think they're going to rush off," Ebel said. "That can cause a crash, but more importantly, nobody is providing the care that that person needs while you are running around in the car. We have the best 911 system around. Call them."

Finally, if someone else is taking care of your children, Ebel says make sure they know who to call in an emergency.

"Just be prepared, make sure your care provider’s prepared, your babysitter, your grandma, whoever's looking out for your kids, have those numbers on the fridge," Ebel said.