Everett Fire Issues Reminder About Window Falls Involving Kids After Scary Incident Saturday Afternoon

July 11, 2022

Everett Fire

This out today from Everett Firefighters after a scary incident that ended okay Saturday after a child fell out a third-story window.

It only takes the blink of an eye for a child to fall out an open window.

Everett Fire transported a 16-month-old girl to Providence Regional Medical Center Saturday late afternoon after falling approximately 35 feet from a third-story window at an apartment complex in the Cascade View Neighborhood off of Everett Mall Way. Thankfully, the child only suffered a minor foot injury and has since been released from the hospital.
This is the third instance of a child falling from a window this year for Everett Fire, and several more throughout Snohomish County.

Everett Fire urges parents and caregivers of young children to take precautions and talk about window safety with everyone in the household, especially during warm weather when windows tend to be open more. Children are curious and they are fast. In this case, the child was playing in a bedroom with an older sibling when the window was opened by the sibling due to the warm weather. The toddler climbed up and leaned on the screen and fell. Screens can give a false sense of security, but the weight of a child can easily push through a screen.

Most window falls are preventable. Please help us spread the word by sharing these prevention tips with others:

  • Install window guards and stops, which prevent unintentional window falls. They allow fresh air and a cross breeze and still ensure windows can’t open wide enough for kids to fall out.
  • When opening a window for ventilation, use those located out of a child’s reach. Never open a window more than 4 inches.
  • Don’t rely on insect screens to prevent a window fall. Insect screens are designed to keep bugs out, not to keep children in the home.
  • Supervise children to keep child’s play away from windows, balconies, or patio doors.
  • Keep kids from climbing near windows. For your crawlers and climbers, move chairs, cribs and other furniture away from windows to help prevent window falls.

If you need window stops and live within the Everett area, email us at rdoniger@everettwa.gov or call (425) 257-8111. You can also find them at hardware stores and online merchants or check with your local fire department.

For window safety flyers in other languages, please see the below links:



,

About My Everett News Staff

My Everett News is a hyperlocal news website featuring news and events in Everett, Washington. We also cover City of Everett information and items of interest to those who live, work, and play in Everett.

View all posts by My Everett News Staff