The Seattle Times ran a story that said a surprising number of kids are getting hurt by falling out of windows at home:
The incidents have become so common at Seattle's Harborview Medical Center that some emergency-room employees have coined a grim nickname for these patients: window jumpers.
"Many of these kids are under the direct supervision of a parent when this happens. It's not neglect," said Brian Johnston, chief of pediatrics at Harborview. "A window has a screen on it, which gives the family a false sense of confidence."
Harborview treats about 40 to 60 such cases each year, and about a dozen in the last two weeks alone.
I have seen similar stories elsewhere, like this one from California.
The problem has caught the attention of the Consumer Product Safety Commission. In May, the CPSC issued a special alert saying:
"CPSC staff is aware of at least 18 falls from windows through media reports, including two deaths, involving small children since April," said CPSC Acting Chairman Nancy Nord. "We are issuing this warning so parents will take the necessary steps to prevent these incidents from happening."
These deaths and injuries frequently occur when kids push themselves against window screens or climb onto furniture located next to an open window.
From 2002-2004, CPSC staff received an average of 25 reports a year of fatalities associated with falls from windows. Children younger than five years of age account for approximately one-third of these reported fatalities. For all age categories, more males died from window falls than females.
In 2000, the Consumer Product Safety Commission estimated that "more than 4,000 [children] are treated in hospital emergency rooms for window fall-related injuries."
The Seattle Times story explains the problem with screens:
Window screens are generally designed to pop out with ease to allow for quick escapes during fires. Even a small child leaning against a window screen can provide enough pressure to knock it out.
To prevent similar accidents, child-safety experts suggest keeping furniture away from windows, installing window guards to block kids from falling out and buying window stops to prevent windows from opening fully.
Don't forget it can happen to anyone anywhere - Eric...
