Don't Dismiss Home Window Safety

Every year, many children are injured or even killed due to falls from home windows. It's an easy thing to dismiss, but safety and awareness on the parental end is a must in this area. Safe Kids Mid-South, led by Le Bonheur Children's Hospital, offers these tips to prevent window falls:

• 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.
• Never try to move a child who appears to be seriously injured after a fall ? call 911 and let trained medical personnel move the child with proper precautions