One Child Killed, One Hurt in Fall From Window

FALLS CHURCH, Va. - It is a deadly rite of spring. People open their windows for fresh air never imagining that a child could fall out. It has now happened twice in Fairfax County in four days. In one case, the child died.

The latest happened Tuesday night at an apartment complex in the 3600 block of Barcroft View Terrace in Falls Church, Va. A two-year-old girl fell more than 20 feet from a third-floor bedroom window. She survived but with serious injuries.

"Apparently, the child was with siblings and fell out. They were rough housing, being children, that sort of thing, being toddlers," said Lucy Caldwell of Fairfax County Police.

Four days earlier in Reston, a two-year-old boy did not survive. Police say he was also playing with siblings in a bedroom at the home in the 11000 block of Heritage Oak Way, when he fell from a third-story window and landed on the driveway. The child had leaned on the window screen.

"A screen is not strong enough to withstand the weight of a child and it's actually meant to keep bugs out and not kids in," said Chrissy Cianflone, program director with Safe Kids USA, which advocates for child safety.

These accidents happen more than you think. Safe Kids USA says every year, an average of 4,000 children fall from a window and 12 are fatal. Those that do survive are often seriously hurt.

"It can be traumatic brain injury. It could be internal bleeding, compound fractures, broken bones," said Cianflone.

In some cases, a child may hit an awning or bush, bracing a child's fall but those are rare.

What is so tragic is these deaths are preventable. It is simple as installing a window guard for about $25. It screws into the window and typically has metal bars that go in front of the mesh screen to prevent falls. Window guards are actually required by law in New York City apartments after too many children were hurt and killed in that city. Now any building there with three or more apartments must have window guards in apartments where children 10 years old or under live. They must be on every window, except emergency exits. No such law exists in Virginia, Maryland or the District.

A cheaper alternative is a window stop. They cost as little as $6 to $8 at the hardware store. The window stop keeps the window from raising high enough for a child to get through.

Usually it is toddlers, children four and under, that fall. They're too young to grasp the danger an open window poses.

"There are so many things that parents have to be cautious of and be aware of that sometimes, things as simple as an open window get forgotten or overlooked," said Caldwell.

In both Fairfax County cases, the parents were home at the time. But with open windows, all it takes is a split second for an accident like this to happen.

Here are some tips to prevent window falls from Safe Kids USA:

-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.

On the Net:

www.safekids.org/safety-basics/safety-spotlight/national-window-safety-week-april-4-10/