SNOHOMISH COUNTY, Wash. — A 4-year-old girl who fell from a third-story window in Lynnwood over the weekend was the 14th child to fall from a window in Snohomish County this year, according to South County Fire.
Of those, eight occurred in the month of June and parents are now being asked to take precautions as the weather warms up.
On Saturday, June 29, firefighters were called to a townhome along 40th Avenue West around 8 p.m. The child fell from the window onto concrete below and sustained serious injuries. She was taken to Harborview Medical Center.
That fall came just three days after another child on Wed., June 26, suffered traumatic injuries including a head injury that sent him to Harborview.
“We are seeing more severe injuries than in previous years as many falls are happening in new construction, single-family homes or townhomes where the bedrooms are located on the third story,” said Shawneri Guzman, South County Fire community outreach manager and coordinator for Safe Kids Snohomish County.
There are an average of eight reports of children falling out of windows per year in Snohomish County.
Officials are now asking parents and caregivers of young children to take the following precautions:
- Use window stops or guards that keep windows from opening more than 4 inches.
- Move furniture such as cribs, desks, beds and tables away from windows.
- Plant bushes and flower beds under windows to soften landing surfaces.
- Do not rely on window screens to prevent falls.
- Keep windows closed and locked when not in use.
- Actively supervise children at all times, especially around open windows.
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