Window Safety Week, recognized every year during the first full week in April, serves as a reminder of recognizing the importance of window safety and fall prevention year-round. This week is designed to heighten the awareness of what parents and caregivers should do to help keep their homes and families safer from the risk of accidental falls or injuries through windows.
In the spring, with the arrival of warmer weather, many homeowners begin to open windows for ventilation. 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 fall from a window can result in serious injury or even death.
Window Safety and Fall Prevention Tips
The Window Safety Task Force offers these tips to protect children from window falls:
- Avoid the placement of furniture near windows to prevent children from climbing
- Do not rely on insect screens to prevent a window fall
- Keep children’s play away from open windows and 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
Resources
Though Window Safety Week is an important annual reminder, window safety education should be ongoing, occurring throughout the year. To help teach children about window safety, an activity book is available on the task force’s website, as well as additional information for parents and caregivers.
Window Safety Week Tool Kit – Company Use: This document is downloadable and editable for company use.
Window Safety Week Media Kit: Media outlets are invited to view and download this kit for publication use.
PHOTOS | A gallery of downloadable images (including the infographic to the right) pertaining to Window Safety Week can be found on Flickr.
FOR CHILDREN | Window Safety Activity and Coloring Book
Help spread the message of window safety with the Window Safety Task Force on Social Media:
About the Window Safety Task Force
The Window Safety Task Force (WSTF), comprised of the Fenestration and Glazing Industry Alliance (FGIA), the Window & Door Manufacturers Association (WDMA) and the Screen Manufacturers Association (SMA) in cooperation with the National Association of Home Builders (NAHB), works to heighten the awareness of what parents and caregivers should do to help keep their homes and families safer from the risks of accidental falls.
The WSTF was formed in 1997 in response to the growing concern about window safety and accidents caused by falls. At this time, the fenestration industry launched a window safety campaign, and FGIA (formerly known as the American Architectural Manufacturers Association (AAMA)) joined forces with industry associations and groups, and in conjunction with the NSC, established Window Safety Week, in order to heighten awareness about what actions homeowners can take to establish window safety and fall prevention as a year-round safety priority.
