“Stop at 4” is an ongoing safety campaign to educate families about children and window safety. Unfortunately, many don’t realize the danger: In the U.S., 3,300 children age six and under fall from windows every year, and on average, eight children die each year. The goal of this campaign is to reduce the number of children who fall from windows by encouraging families to install child safety stops or guards on windows that pose a fall risk. These devices are different from window locks. Overall, here are some recommendations to keep kids safe around windows: 

• Keep windows closed and locked when not in use. 
• Move furniture or anything a child can climb on away from windows.  
• Teach children to stay at least two steps away from windows—and enforce the rule. 
• Do not open windows beyond four inches and install a window stop to keep children from opening them further. Be sure older children and adults can open them in an emergency.  
• If you open windows more than four inches, install window guards with an emergency release device. 
• Never move a child who appears to be seriously injured after a fall. Call 911 and let trained medical personnel move the child with proper precautions. 

Learn more about STOP at 4, and information about window stops and guards at www.stopat4.com. 

Ask the WCSO is produced by the Washington County Sheriff’s Office.