Fires and falls of all kinds are among the leading causes of injury and death in young children. National Window Safety Week is observed annually during the first full week of April to help educate people on how they can keep children from falling out of windows. 

Nationwide, approximately 3,300 children fall from windows every year with 70% falling from second or third story windows. In Oregon, about 50 children ages 0-5 fall from windows annually. The majority of those falls happen during warmer months between May and September.

In fact, the young son of one of our very own Portland firefighters fell from his second story window four years ago. Please take time to watch the following video http://www.vancouverside.com/episodes.php?video=Window_Safety_32#form

Children can fall from windows allowed to open more than 4 inches. As parents, grandparents, uncles, aunts, brothers and sisters, we need to be aware of how to keep our children safe.

With warmer months approaching, I encourage you to safeguard your windows to prevent a child from falling and suffering serious injury or death. Please share this message with friends with children.

ERIN A. JANSSENS, Chief

Portland Fire & Rescue