Two Tacoma children were rushed to local hospitals on Friday after separate falls from third-story apartment windows, according to authorities. A 5-year-old girl fell from a window in the 3600 block of South G Street, and a 2-year-old boy fell from a window in the 6400 block of 53rd Avenue East. Both children were hospitalized with non-life-threatening injuries and are expected to recover.
Officials' Account
According to KING 5, Tacoma police said both incidents were accidental, and first responders transported the children to area hospitals. The outlet reports the 2-year-old boy fell from a third-story apartment window in the 6400 block of 53rd Avenue East, while Tacoma Fire Department officials said the 5-year-old girl was taken from the 3600 block of South G Street with injuries described as non-life-threatening. Officials told KING 5 that both children are expected to survive.
Not an Isolated Risk
The incidents land in the middle of an ongoing local push to prevent window falls. Central Pierce Fire & Rescue reports that MultiCare Mary Bridge Children’s Hospital treats about 33 pediatric window falls each year, and more than 25% of those cases come from just five Pierce County ZIP codes. The district notes that warmer weather and open windows increase the risk, and that several of the highest-risk ZIP codes fall within its service area.
How to Reduce the Risk
Federal and local safety experts stress that standard window screens are not safety devices and should never be relied on to keep children from falling. They urge families to install quick-release window guards or window stops that limit how far a window can open. The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission recommends using guards or stops and keeping furniture away from windows so children cannot climb up. Officials say those basic steps, along with close supervision and an emergency escape plan, can significantly reduce the chance of a fall.
Local Help and Resources
Central Pierce and Mary Bridge have teamed up to provide free window-stop devices and practical safety guidance to local families. Details and a request form are available on Central Pierce’s window-safety page. Central Pierce Fire & Rescue encourages homeowners and landlords to install stops that limit window openings to about four inches and to incorporate the devices into home emergency-escape planning.
