KLAMATH FALLS, Ore. — The National Safety Council and JELD-WEN today announced support of National Window Safety Week, April 4-10. With the arrival of warmer weather, people will begin to open windows. However, open windows can be dangerous for young children who are not properly supervised. While the number of falls from windows is generally small compared with other recorded child injuries, a window incident can result in serious injury or even death.

“National Window Safety Week is the perfect time to review window safety in the home. A fall from a window can happen in a matter of seconds, often resulting in serious injury or death. It is important for parents and caregivers to take precautions to prevent such falls from occurring,” said Donna Stein-Harris, senior director of Off-the-Job Initiatives for the council. “Remember to always keep windows closed and locked when children are around. When opening a window for ventilation, be sure it is out of a child's reach.”

The National Safety Council offers these tips to protect children from window falls:

• Avoid placing furniture near windows to prevent children from climbing.
• Do not rely on insect screens to prevent a window fall.
• Enforce rules to keep children away from playing near windows or patio doors.
• Install building code-compliant devices designed to limit how far a window will open or window guards with release mechanisms to help prevent a fall.
• Teach your child how to safely use a window to escape during an emergency.
• The council's Window Safety Task Force, which JELD-WEN is a part of, promotes window safety during National Window Safety Week and beyond. The Window Safety Task Force educates parents and caregivers on how to prevent window falls. Window safety media and consumer information kits, safety tips, an activity book and more are located at National Safety Council.

About the National Safety Council’s Window Safety Task Force

The Window Safety Task Force, formed in 1997 to promote greater awareness of window safety, is composed of members representing the American Architectural Manufacturers Association, the Window and Door Manufacturers Association and the Screen Manufacturers Association, in cooperation with the National Association of Home Builders and other organizations, as well as manufacturers of windows and doors such as JELD-WEN. Each year, the task force distributes thousands of consumer information kits in cooperation with NSC. Last year more than 20,000 kits were distributed nationwide. The National Safety Council (www.nsc.org) saves lives by preventing injuries and deaths at work, in homes and communities, and on the roads through leadership, research, education and advocacy.

The task force emphasizes the life-saving role that doors and windows play as the primary exits and secondary means of escape in the event of a fire. Doors serve as exits, while windows provide an alternate means of escape.

In homes with young children, for greater safety, windows within reach of children should remain closed and locked, or when double-hung windows are available, the bottom sash should remain closed, while the top sash is opened to provide ventilation.

The coalition reminds parents and caregivers to avoid placing furniture under windows. Young children can use furniture to climb to and potentially fall from an open window.