01:19 PM PDT on Tuesday, July 11, 2006

JEAN ENSERSEN / KING 5 News

KING

Window guards protect children, but open easily in case of fire.

Already this year 16 children have been rushed to Harborview Medical Center in Seattle, the tiny victims of window falls.

In seattle we know every spring, every summer on the first warm weekend, we're going to see a handful of children falling out of windows, and distraught parents wishing they had known or done something differently.

Dr. Brian Johnston, chief of pediatrics at Harborview, says many parents mistakenly believe window screens can keep their kids safe from falls.

"In fact, screens are designed to pop out easily so that people can get out of a window in the event of a fire,” he said.

That's something screen makers aren't required to tell you, though some screens do carry a warning label.

New mom Jennifer Rudy says she worries about her toddler's safety in her second floor nursery.

"To me, these are the most dangerous windows in the house for our daughter,” she said.

So she had window guards installed. They protect Juliette, and open easily in case of fire. She's also fitting a mesh screen to the balcony rails to prevent a fall.

There are more options for parents. Inexpensive locks stop windows from opening more than a safe four inches.

Janis Grusz co-owns a business that installs window safety devices. She with one such device, a suction cup presses onto the window, and when your window is opened it cannot go past that stopper.

Keeping furniture clear of windows can help, too. Even planting shrubs below windows has been shown to cushion a child's fall, and lessen injuries.

The combination makes Juliette's environment safer.

"I don't think I'm overprotective. I think that investing in safety is the most important thing we can do," she said.

While few kids die from window falls, a third get admitted to intensive care. One in four may have permanent disability. A doctor from Children's Hospital is conducting a new study of window falls. The evidence she gathers may lead to better policies for window safety.