EVERETT, Wash. — Two children were seriously injured within one week after falling from third-story windows in Everett, according to the Everett Fire Department (EFD).
Now the agency is sounding the alarm to parents as temperatures rise and people may be leaving their windows open more often, creating added danger for young kids.
The most recent incident took place on Wednesday evening at around 7:30 p.m. A 3-year-old boy leant on a window screen, which gave way. The window was opened by the child's sibling.
The boy sustained traumatic injuries including a head injury and is still recovering at Harborview Medical Center.
Just a week earlier, a 4-year-old girl also fell through a window screen on the third-story of a residence. She was taken to Harborview Medical Center where she spent days being treated for her injures, before she was allowed to go home earlier this week.
EFD warns that children between the ages of 2 and 5 are at the most risk of falling through windows, citing data that around 5,000 children are injured every year because of window falls.
They recommended the following tips from Seattle Children's Hospital to keep kids safe during this time of year:
- Always supervise young children.
- Keep windows closed and locked if possible.
- Install child safety devices on windows 6 feet or more from the ground outside. Be sure to buy devices that an adult can release in case of emergency.
- Use child safety window stops to prevent windows from opening more than 4 inches.
- Keep furniture and other things that can be used for climbing away from windows.
EFD recommended that people with young children purchase window stops which are available at home improvement stores. The agency also has a limited number available for those who cannot afford to purchase their own.
