2-Year-Old Girl Falls From Window In Quincy

QUINCY, MA – A 2-year-old girl in Quincy fell from a fourth-floor window Saturday, police said. The fall happened on Southern Artery; the girl was transported to the hospital and was in stable condition as of Monday morning.

Police said it was the second report of a child falling from a window in Quincy last week. On July 1, a 4-year-old boy survived a seven-story fall on Cove Way.

According to the Safe Kids Worldwide 2015 report, approximately 8 children under the age of five die each year from falling out a window, and more than 3,300 are injured seriously enough to go to the hospital. To minimize the likelihood of an accident, Quincy Police Department issued the following tips about window safety.

To prevent window falls, parents and caregivers should:
1. Install approved window guards: Massachusetts building codes require that a window guard must have a quick-release that can be operated by an adult or older child in an emergency. Be sure the window guards you purchase include this feature. Windows stops can be purchased at a local hardware store and range in price from $5-$10 each. Child safety window guards cost about $40, depending on the style/brand/window size. It is important to remember that these need to be installed correctly in order to work.
2. Keep all furniture, especially beds, sofas, dressers, or anything else child can climb, away from windows.
3. Lock all unopened doors and windows.
4. Open windows from the top down, especially when there are children in the home.
5. If you must open windows from the bottom, buy window-stops at your local hardware store that will limit the opening to less than 4 inches. Window stops can be disabled by an adult or older child in an emergency.

Other Safety Tips:
1. Encourage children to play in the center of the room. Do not store toys next to the windows.
2. Establish home fire escape routes and schedule regular family practice drills. Be sure all adults and older children practice so they can disable window-stops and remove window guards in an emergency.
3. Regularly check for and fix loose railings or boards on upper balconies.
4. Make sure porch and balcony railings are spaced 4 inches apart or less to prevent children from slipping through or trapping body parts. Railings on older buildings can be up to 7 inches apart and may need to be replaced to protect children.
5. Remember, no tool or equipment is 100% foolproof. Young children require constant supervision to keep them safe.
6. Window screens will not prevent a child from falling out a window.

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