Window falls, screens, guards and stops

About 5,600 children 12 and under went to the emergency room after a fall from a window in 2024, and about one in three of them were admitted to the hospital. At least 25 children died in window falls from 2021 to 2023, and 80 percent of those deaths happened between May and October. Start with the bedrooms.

Guards and stops

• Put window guards on the windows children can reach
• On the sixth floor and below, use guards an adult can open quicklyThe window may be someone's way out in a fire.
• Fit window stops so the window opens no more than 4 inches
• Check every room still has two ways outMake sure the windows aren't stuck, the screens come out quickly and any security bars open from inside.
• If you rent, ask the landlord about guards

How the windows get used

• Don't count on a screen to stop a fallA screen keeps bugs out. It won't hold a child.
• Open windows from the top when you can
• Move furniture away from the windowsChildren climb on beds, dressers and toy chests to reach the glass.

The cords

• Use cordless blinds and shades in children's roomsA child can be strangled by a blind or curtain cord in moments, often silently, even with an adult nearby. Cordless coverings are the only kind that remove the risk.
• Move cribs and beds away from the cordsPut them on another wall if you can, along with other furniture and toys.
• Cut pull cords as short as they'll go
• Set the cord stopsWith the blind all the way down, the stops on each pull cord should sit 1 to 2 inches below the head rail. The Window Covering Safety Council, at 800-506-4636 or windowcoverings.org, sends free kits for blinds that don't have them.
• Anchor looped cords to the wall or floorKeep the loop tight but still working. The council's free kits cover loops without a hold-down too.
• Check for blinds bought before November 2000Most have inner cords a child can pull into a loop. A cordless covering removes the risk.

The cord fixes lower the risk but don't remove it. Anchoring furniture and TVs against tip-overs covers the dresser you move away from the window.