Sentry Window Guards’ Ed Torres Interviewed on NHK World Japan on Window Safety

June 16, 2023 by

 Sentry Window Guards’ CEO Ed Torres was featured in an important story by NHK World Japan’s Mark Tagliamonte, Guarding Windows, Savings Lives. In the report, Mr. Tagliamonte shares two tragic stories, one in Japan and one in Hawaii, of children falling to their deaths because window guards were not installed. Cities like New York City, however, have been working to ensure that families do not have to endure this type of loss by requiring window guards. 

Ed Torres and Sentry Window Guards continue to be a leading advocate for the safety of New Yorkers and trusted provider of top quality window guards. You can learn more about Sentry Window Guards here and watch the full video below.

Filed Under: Child Safety, Tips on Window Guards Tagged With:

How to Observe Window Safety Year Round

April 15, 2020 by

The Window Safety Task Force of the National Safety Council observes National Window Safety Week during the first full week of April each year. The goals of this week are to help families understand the role of windows in escaping a fire or in other emergencies and to safeguard against accidental window falls. The safety of you and your family are very important to us! Spend some time going through this window safety checklist to learn how to observe window safety year round.

Emergency Escape Routes

  • Develop an emergency escape plan and have the whole family test it at least twice a year. It is best to test the plan once during daylight and once at night. 
  • Determine at least two avenues of escape from every room. 
  • Make sure at least one window in each bedroom meets escape and rescue requirements.
  • Teach children who are old enough how to properly and safely open windows during an emergency situation.
  • Check to make sure windows are not nailed or painted shut.
  • Ensure there are no air conditioners installed in windows that may be needed for escape.
  • Provide emergency escape ladders in upper story windows where needed and teach everyone in the family how to use them.
  • Identify a safe meeting place outside your home.

Preventing Falls From Windows

  • Never leave small children unattended around open windows. 
  • Windows should be closed and locked when they are not in use.
  • Keep children’s play areas away from windows.
  • To help prevent children from climbing up to an open window, don’t place furniture near windows.
  • Don’t rely on insect screens to prevent a window fall. Screens alone cannot support the weight of a child.
  • Whenever possible, open windows from the top instead of the bottom.
  • Properly installed window guards are your best defense in preventing window falls. Window stops are also a good idea to help allow you to enjoy a fresh breeze while ensuring windows won’t open wide enough to invite a fall. 

At Sentry Window Guards, our business is to keep children safe by preventing window fall accidents from occurring. See below for what a satisfied customer had to say about their experience with us. For more information regarding our window guard products and our expertise in understanding NYC safety requirements, contact us today! 

“I live in an apartment building in Manhattan; management wouldn’t be of any help to supply us with guards for our apartment. I called Sentry and spoke to Ed and he walked me through it and within 3 days we had our window guards installed in black aluminum, which no one else carried. Love the guards and the service.” – Jillian L.

 

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New York City Department of Health: Install your Window Guards

August 24, 2017 by

We are always eager to spotlight the importance of window guards and this article highlights some great tips and insight into why New Yorkers should be conscious of window guard installation. Please contact us if you would like a free consultation.

Read the article here: NYC Department of Health: Install your Window Guards

Filed Under: Child Safety, Tips on Window Guards

3-Year-Old Boy Falls to His Death in Manhattan

July 11, 2016 by

Sentry Window Guards is sad to report a fatal fall involving a 3-year-old boy from a 13th story apartment building window last week. By law in NYC, anyone with children 10 years or under must have window guards on all windows. However, if the window guards aren’t properly installed, it’s the same as if you didn’t have them installed at all. When a window guard is properly installed, there is no way possible a 3 year-old could remove it. Unfortunately that was the case in this tragic event and the window guard was found on the ground near the boy’s lifeless body. Read the full story here.

At Sentry Window Guards we make it our mission to help keep families safe. If you don’t have window guards or you aren’t sure your window guards are properly installed, please contact us today. On average about 5,000 kids fall each year from windows in the U.S. Let’s reduce this risk and prevent these types of tragedies by installing window guards properly.

For more information regarding our window guard products and our experience and leadership in understanding NYC safety requirements, contact us today.

Filed Under: Child Safety, Tips on Window Guards

Air Conditioners and Window Guards in New York: What you need to know!

March 8, 2016 by

You can feel it, the first hints of spring are coming to the Northeast and in no time at all it’ll be summer and hot!  You have small children living in your house or apartment, love the safety of window guards but need to keep your residence cool through the blistering heat of a NYC summer. How can you have the best of both worlds? We’ll tell you!

You should always have at least two ways to exit your home or apartment in the event of a fire or an emergency, typically the front door being one exit and a window, balcony/terrace or fire escape as the second mode of egress. An air conditioning unit placed in a window not used as an emergency exit is perfect. If your window air conditioning unit is permanently installed there should be no risk of a child or adult falling from the window.

Stringent rules for NYCHA residents

NYCHA currently installs window guards in all windows, including those leading to a balcony or terrace at no cost to the resident. Only windows that provide access to fire escapes and windows that serve as a secondary exit in a first-floor apartment are the exceptions to this rule.

If a full set of windows guards aren’t installed in your apartment, please contact the Customer Contact Center at (718) 707-7771 immediately.  Upon receipt of your call, we will install window guards in any windows that do not have them.

According to all NYCHA Lease Agreement’s, residents must cooperate and assist the NYCHA to comply with New York City window guard laws concerning their installation and maintenance.  In addition, the Annual Window Guard Survey must be completed by all residents and occupants.  If according to the completed survey children 10 years old or younger occupy, reside or frequent the residence, window guards must be installed by law and you cannot refuse them.

Residents and occupants who fail to comply may be subject to penalties and/or termination or tenancy.

NYCHA residents using air conditioners in place of window guards

Air conditioners can be an acceptable alternative to window guards if they are properly and permanently installed and cannot be removed seasonally. You must complete a form, have it executed by the Housing Manager or their designee, and notify NYCHA within three days after installation. All air conditioners are to be installed at the tenant’s expense. There are further stipulations as to the exact method of installation, they can be found here:

http://www.nyc.gov/html/nycha/html/residents/air-conditioners-window-guards-notice.shtml

If at any time during an inspection it is deemed that your air conditioning unit is unsafe and presents a danger to others for any reason, it will be removed immediately and a window guard installed in its place.

Additionally, if you should remove any air conditioner a maintenance worker must be present and scheduled during normal business hours so that they may install window guards immediately after the units removal.

For more information, please follow this link- http://www.nyc.gov

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