It still happens–each year in New York kids fall from windows and are either seriously injured or may be killed. Did you know that even if a child falls from a first-floor window, they may be die? It happens in the blink of an eye, but window guards can prevent these horrific accidents.
Sure, screens help to keep then insects out, but they cannot prevent falls from windows. Only window guards are a certain way to prevent accidents. All window guards in New York must be approved by the Department of Health and Mental Hygiene and they are the law!
Make sure your window guards are:
- approved, and
- properly installed.
THE LAW: If you live in a building that has 3 or more apartments, and a child age 10 years or younger lives with you, window guards are required (even on the first floor). Landlords are responsible for installing and maintaining window guards. Every window in your apartment is required to have a window guard, except windows leading to fire escapes. In buildings with fire escapes, window guards must be left off one window in each ground-floor apartment so the window can be used as an emergency exit. All public hallway windows must have window guards, too.
Even if you do not have a child 10 years or younger living with you, you can still have window guards if you want them. For example, you might want window guards
• To protect children who visit or for whom you care, including children with special needs, or
• For added security, but you don’t have to have a reason.
Protect children from window falls
- NEVER leave a child alone in a room where there are open windows that do not have window guards.
- If your window guards aren’t installed yet, keep your bottom windows closed. Open only your top windows for fresh air.
- Keep furniture that children can climb on away from all windows.
- NEVER let a child play:
- On a fire escape
- On a roof
- In halls with windows that do not have window guards
- Near elevator shafts
- Near steps or stairs
If your landlord hasn’t provided window guards, refuses to respond to your request for window guards, or if you have other problems with window guards that you can’t resolve with your landlord, call 311 or the Health Department’s Window Falls Prevention Program at (212) 676-2162.
If you need help in selecting a window guard for your home or building, please call one of our professionals for the best window guards in New York.
Every day you whisper a promise to your child, “I’ll always love you and keep you safe.” But keeping your home and children safe takes more than promises. It can only be done with safety awareness, planning and preventive action.
