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Boulder toddler falls from window

Girl recovering from non-life-threatening injuries

Window safety

Keep windows closed and locked when children are around.

When opening windows for ventilation, open those that a child cannot reach.

Set and enforce rules keeping children from playing near windows or patio doors.

Keep furniture — or anything children can climb — away from windows.

If you have young children in your home, consider installing window guards or window fall prevention devices.

Be aware, if prevention devices are installed, the window guards must have a release mechanism in the case of a fire emergency.

The degree of injury sustained from a window fall can be affected by the surface on which the victim falls. Shrubs and soft edging, such as wood chips or grass, beneath windows might lessen the impact, if a fall does occur.

Source: The National Safety Council

A 3-year-old toddler is recovering at Children’s Hospital in Denver after falling from a second-story window at her Boulder home.

The girl, whose name hasn’t been released by police, was upstairs in her parents’ room about 5 p.m. Wednesday when she pushed on the screen of an open window and fell out of the Mapleton Street house, according to Boulder police.

The window, which was lower to the floor, was the only window in the house without safety devices, police said. Carolyn DiFalco, the toddler’s grandmother, said the window wasn’t strapped with safety devices because the family is doing home improvements in that room.

“She had taken so many precautions with the upper windows,” DiFalco said, listing gates, barriers and locks among the devices her daughter has installed to keep the couple’s three children younger than 5 safe.

When the toddler fell at least 12 feet, she landed on a deck in the back of the house.

“Of course, the parents are very distraught — they are very concerned,” DiFalco said.

But so far, the toddler doesn’t seem to have serious injuries.

“She’s talking, and everything’s normal,” DiFalco said. “She’s very lucky.”

Boulder police spokeswoman Sarah Huntley said the mother was downstairs when the toddler fell, and she kept the child immobile on the deck until paramedics arrived.

“She had her daughter’s head cradled in her hands,” Huntley said. “She responded appropriately.”

The couple is not facing any charges in the case, Huntley said.

“The family was very aware of windows and had taken great efforts to childproof their home,” she said. “But (toddlers) are very curious and adventurous, and they seem to have a radar for things that might be dangerous.”

Comments

Posted by Manioca35 on August 28, 2008 at 9:28 p.m.

(This comment was removed by the site staff.)

Posted by monkeys on August 28, 2008 at 9:59 p.m. (Suggest removal)

I'm so glad she'll be OK. This is one of every parent's nightmares. Blessings to the family.

Posted by blacksho89 on August 28, 2008 at 11:09 p.m. (Suggest removal)

I think the point is that the "these things happen in..." was old about 6 weeks ago. It just doesn't have the snap that a good meme needs.

Posted by rubygirl on August 29, 2008 at 12:09 a.m. (Suggest removal)

falls from 2nd story windows are so so very common. please do not place furniture next to the windows. thanks

Posted by fr15b33 on August 29, 2008 at 1:11 a.m. (Suggest removal)

R we sure this isn't a case of defenestration? (I've just always wanted to use that word.)

Posted by boulderhippie on August 29, 2008 at 6:38 a.m. (Suggest removal)

yes, we are sure.

Posted by Twinma on August 29, 2008 at 8:52 a.m. (Suggest removal)

" think the point is that the "these things happen in..." was old about 6 weeks ago. It just doesn't have the snap that a good meme needs.

Actually it still cracks me up. I guess i'm just silly! LOL

Posted by crazy4cheese on August 29, 2008 at 5:28 p.m. (Suggest removal)

Yes, it was old six weeks ago, but the fact that people have persevered with it made it funny again. Like this:

http://tinyurl.com/2q9j9y

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