Window Guards
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Summer time is here. With heat indexes reaching into the triple digits, many on Staten Island are struggling to cope with the heat. Along with the warmer temperatures, a new danger rises at this time of year - children and open windows. Recently, a 2-year old boy fell three stories from his Manhattan apartment building. The apartment where this child lived did not have window guards installed, an apparent violation of the New York City law. Miraculously, he survived but many other children are not so fortunate.
If some of you think that window screens will help prevent a fall, you are fatally mistaken. Many of you may have noticed the "warning tag" placed on most window screens. The warning clearly states that the screen will not prevent a child from falling out an open window. Screens are for keeping bugs out and not for preventing falls.
In New York City, if you live in a building that has 3 or more apartments and have a child under 10 years of age living with you, your landlord or management company MUST install window guards in every window of your apartment, even if you live on the first floor. Even if you live in a single family home, and you have young children or grandchildren, its a good idea to install window guards. The guards are around $60.00 - less than the price of a cup of coffee per day each month - and can be purchased on-line. Isn't your child worth the price?
