After three recent cases of children falling out of windows, Howard County officials are calling on parents and guardians to be more aware and alert of their children’s safety.
A 3-year-old girl fell from a second-floor window of her home in Columbia, Md., on March 16, officials said. She suffered multiple skull fractures, was taken to a local children’s hospital, and has since been released.
In Columbia on May 5, a 5-year-old boy fell from a third-floor window of his home and sustained multiple fractures to his skull and face. He was taken to a local hospital, where he remains hospitalized.
On May 23, a 2-year-old toddler fell from a second-story window of his Ellicott City home. The child suffered a skull fracture and bleeding on the brain. He was taken to a local children’s hospital in critical condition and remains hospitalized.
Authorities said they have not filed any charges in these cases, but hope parents will take preventive measures to keep their children safe.
“Injuries in these types of cases can be severe,” said Police Chief William McMahon. “We investigate every case to ensure there is no foul play or child abuse involved, and usually what we find are preventable accidents.”
According to the American Academy of Pediatrics, 5,000 kids fall out of windows in the U.S. and end up in the emergency room, some with serious head injuries.
With more warm weather on the way, Howard County officials are offering some tips on how to prevent window falls.
- Don’t leave young children alone in a room with an open window. Teach children to play a safe distance from any window.
- Ensure there are not any pieces of furniture or toys near the window children are able to climb on.
- DO NOT depend of screens to keep your children from falling out of windows.
- If and when possible, open windows from the top, rather than the bottom.
- Window guards and window stops are great for safeguarding windows.
