Window Guard Safety!
Nearly 5,000 children get injured by falling out from windows, 28% of these lead to hospitalization and about 10 children die from such falls each year. The New York Law requires every dwelling that has more than 3 families living in it to install window safety guards.
This law only applies to apartments where children of 10 years or younger of age live in. (even first floor apartments are required to have window safety guards.) The only windows that are exempt from this law are windows that open up to a fire escape.
Now, who is legally responsible to install the window safety guard? Generally, it would be the owner or the manager of the building. But what about a cooperative or condominium building? When it comes to coop and condo buildings, the rules are not the same. All of the above laws apply to coop associations, the association’s board is required to install window guards on all windows of an apartment where there are children under the age of 10 years old. But condo association boards are not responsible to install window safety guards. Condo owners have their own responsibly to install safety guards if they have kids under the age of 10. It is recommended that the association board should perform an annual survey to find out which units have kids under the age of 10 years old. When installing window safety guards in your building, make sure that it has an opening mechanism so that the window can be used as a secondary means of egress in case of an emergency.
Some other window safety tips you should know about.
- Make sure that the window can’t open more than 4 inches.
- Whenever possible, open window from top down.
- Never keep furniture or other climbing materials near windows, kids intend to use them as a climbing tool. Keeping furniture in front of windows could also slow down your escape in case of an emergency.
- Cribs and beds of children should always be kept away from windows.
- Constantly check if your windows open quick and easily and that they weren’t painted or nailed down.