Window Falls Are Preventable

Salt Lake City, UT -- (ReleaseWire) -- 05/21/2021 -- As it warms up, it's nice to let fresh spring air circulate through a home. But it also increases risk of falls according to Jessica Strong, community health manager at Intermountain Primary Children's Hospital.

"Windows are a fall hazard for kids, and the consequences can be severe," Strong said. "Window screens are a great way to keep bugs out, but not kids in."

Nearly 15,000 children are injured by falling out of windows every year. Often, children were leaning against window screens before they fell.

Window screens are designed to easily pop out in case of a fire or other emergency to help people easily escape. As a result, they give way with moderate pressure.

"The best way to keep children safe from window falls is to keep them away from open windows," Strong said. "There are a number of precautions that can be taken, but it's important to remember there is no substitute for adult supervision. Most window falls occur when children are alone."

Here are some other tips for preventing window falls:

- Keep windows closed and locked.
- Before opening a window, make sure it is inaccessible to children.
- Keep furniture or anything children can climb on away from windows.
- Teach children only to open windows with permission and help from adults.
- Consider installing window locks, guards, or other safety equipment to prevent children from opening windows too wide — or at all — without help from an adult.

For more information: primarychildrens.org/safety.

About Primary Children's Hospital
Primary Children's Hospital is part of Intermountain Healthcare, a not-for-profit system of 25 hospitals, 225 clinics, a Medical Group with 2,600 employed physicians and advanced practice clinicians, a health insurance company called SelectHealth, and other health services in Idaho, Utah, and Nevada. For more than 95 years, Primary's have served over 1 million children living in a 400,000 square-mile service area including Utah, Idaho, Montana, Nevada, Wyoming, and Alaska. Intermountain is widely recognized as a leader in transforming healthcare by using evidence-based best practices to consistently deliver high-quality outcomes and sustainable costs.

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