A 2-year-old girl is fighting for her life after she tumbled from a second-story window at a Midwood home on Monday, according to police.
Authorities said the child fell from an open window in a private residence and was critically hurt. Paramedics rushed her to Maimonides Medical Center in Borough Park, where she was listed in critical condition.
Police said the girl's mother was in another room when the fall happened. Investigators are trying to piece together how the toddler managed to reach the open window. The incident remains under investigation, according to police.
As reported by New York Daily News, the fall occurred while the mother was reportedly in the bathroom, and it was not immediately clear how long the child had been left unattended. Emergency workers transported the girl to Maimonides, where she continued to receive treatment in critical condition, the outlet reported.
Window Guards And City Safety Rules
New York City requires landlords of residential buildings with three or more units to install window guards or limiting devices wherever a child 10 years old or younger lives in an apartment. City officials credit those rules with sharply cutting the number of children who fall from windows.
One- and two-family homes are not required by law to have window guards, although health officials strongly recommend them in any home where young children live. Tenants can ask their landlords to install guards or call 311 for help, according to NYC Health.
Maimonides' Pediatric Capacity
According to Maimonides Medical Center, the hospital operates a dedicated children's emergency department and pediatric trauma services that handle some of Brooklyn's most serious injuries. The hospital notes that its pediatric facilities include expanded treatment areas and advanced imaging intended to speed diagnosis and care for critically injured children.
Hospital officials did not immediately provide further comment on the girl's condition.
How Caregivers Can Reduce Risk
City health officials urge parents and caregivers to treat windows with the same caution as any other household hazard. That includes installing window guards or limiting devices, making sure air-conditioner units are secured so they cannot be pushed out, and never leaving young children unsupervised near open windows.
Tenants who need window guards can request installation from their landlords or file a complaint through 311, per NYC Health.
