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Toddler falls from second-storey window in Burnaby

Boy not seriously hurt but police urging parents to secure windows during hot weather
Police Tape GettyImages
A 14-month-old boy fell from the second floor of an apartment building in Burnaby Sunday.

A toddler was taken to hospital but wasn’t seriously hurt after falling two floors out of an apartment window in Burnaby on the weekend.

Officers were called to Arcola Street near Sperling Avenue at around 9:30 p.m. on Sunday after witnesses saw a child fall from a second-storey window, according to an RCMP news release.

The 14-month-old was taken to hospital but wasn’t seriously hurt, police said.

Police believe the boy had climbed on to furniture before he fell through the window, which did not have a screen and had been left open due to the recent hot weather, according to the release.

Burnaby RCMP is now urging families to secure windows in their homes and practice window safety this summer.

“In this case, it just took a moment for the child to fall while a parent had briefly stepped out of the room,” said media spokesperson Cpl. Mike Kalanj. “As the weather heats up, we are urging all parents and families to do a safety assessment in their own home.”

Some tips from Fraser Health to keep kids safe:

  • Move household items away from windows to discourage children from climbing to peer out.
  • Don’t underestimate a child’s mobility; children begin climbing before they can walk.
  • Toddlers may use anything as a step stool to get higher.
  • Be aware that window screens will not prevent children from falling through – they keep bugs out, not children in.
  • Install window guards on windows above the ground level. These act as a gate in front of the window.
  • Install window and door safety locks so they cannot open more than 10 centimetres (four inches).
  • Talk to your children about the dangers of opening and playing near windows, particularly on upper floors of the home.

More advice on safely securing your windows can be found here: https://bit.ly/3zQzrU0.