Kids Can't Fly

Lead: Innovative program spreads the word that "Kids Can’t Fly".

Brief Synopsis

Open windows provide relief from the heat during the miserable summer months of New England. But they also provide an opportunity for children to injure themselves, sometimes seriously. The "Kids Can’t Fly" program, which works in conjunction with the Boston Public Health Commission and is the lead agency for the Greater Boston SAFEKIDS Coalition, provides education regarding window fall prevention. This program has had a widespread effect, reaching nearly 8.5 million people since the beginning of the program in 1993. Between 1993 and 1997, there was a 83% reduction in the number of children falling from windows in the Boston area. The program aims to educate the public about this issue, but it also distributes window guards, especially to low income families. "Kids Can’t Fly" directs safety information by working directly with landlords of low-income Boston residents, and matches property managers’ purchases of the guards up to $1,000. They also develop public service announcements and educational materials in several languages, including Spanish, Vietnamese and Chinese. Although the program uses no federal funds, support comes in many different forms, including direct promotion from the Boston Mayor’s Office. Ongoing cooperation among agencies will only further the outreach and educational efforts, ensuring that "kids do not fly".

Program

Kids Can’t Fly
Director, Kim Wolski
Childhood Injury Prevention Program
Boston Public Health Commission
1010 Massachusetts Avenue, 2^nd Floor
Boston, MA 02118
(617) 534-5197
www.tiac.net/users/bdph/cipp

Story Contact

Kim Wolski, Director
Kids Can’t Fly
Childhood Injury Prevention Program
Boston Public Health Commission
1010 Massachusetts Avenue, 2^nd Floor
Boston, MA 02118
(617) 534-2633

(Will be updated shortly)

Background

The death rate from falls among children ages 14 and under declined by 36 percent from 1987 to 1996. However, falls remain the leading cause of unintentional injury for children. Children ages 14 and under account for one-third of all fall-related visits to hospital emergency rooms. (SAFEKIDS Coalition, Western Massachusetts SafeKids Coalition Headquarters Baystate Medical Center Children’s Hospital, 759 Chestnut Street, Springfield, MA 01199 (413) 794-5434. www.safekids.org)

Window falls tend to occur in large urban areas, low-income housing neighborhoods, and deteriorating and overcrowded housing. Children living in apartment buildings have the highest number of window fall incidences; five times more than that of children living in residences. (SAFEKIDS Coalition, Western Massachusetts SafeKids Coalition Headquarters Baystate Medical Center Children’s Hospital, 759 Chestnut Street, Springfield, MA 01199 (413) 794-5434. www.safekids.org)

More than 80 percent of fall-related injuries among children ages 4 and under occur in the home. Among older children, ages 5 to 14, 45 percent of fall-related injuries occur in the home. In 1997, more than 100 children ages 14 and under died as a result of falls in the home. Of these children, more than half were under 4. (SAFEKIDS Coalition, Western Massachusetts SafeKids Coalition Headquarters Baystate Medical Center Children’s Hospital, 759 Chestnut Street, Springfield, MA 01199 (413) 794-5434. www.safekids.org)

Falls are the leading cause of injury to children ages 5 and under. Window falls can cause serious injuries yet they can be prevented by combining education and safety technology (window guards). Implementing these elements can reduce the risk of falls. ("Kids Can’t Fly" Childhood Injury Prevention Program Boston Public Health Commission, 1010 Massachusetts Ave., 2^nd Floor, Boston, MA 02118 (617) 534-5197)

Child safety window guards are NOT the same as burglar/security bars. Security bars are wide enough to allow a child to slip through and should not be used as a safety window guard. Child safety window guards are not designed to protect against intruders. If a window does not have a safety window guard installed, a window lock can be used to restrict the window from opening more than four inches. ("Kids Can’t Fly" Childhood Injury Prevention Program Boston Public Health Commission, 1010 Massachusetts Ave., 2^nd Floor, Boston, MA 02118 (617) 534-5197)

Falls resulting in severe or fatal injuries are usually due to falls from second story or higher windows. The mean height for a fatal injury is 5-6 stories. (Barlow B, Niemirska M, Gandhi RP, Leblanc W. Ten years experience with falls from a height in children. Journal of Pediatric Surgery, 1983; 18: 509-11. Reference and statistic found on Harborview Injury Prevention and Research Center website:http://depts.washington.edu/hiprc/)

Window screens are made to pop out for fire safety reasons, and do not serve as abarrier to prevent children from falling out of windows. (Christoffel KK. How can we prevent children from falling out of windows. Presentation at the APH conference, Chicago, Illinois, January 23, 1985.)

In 1993 alone, 18 children fell from unprotected windows in the Boston area. Three died. The majority the falls occurred during the summer months when children living in high rise apartments are most vulnerable. The majority of all window fall deaths (70 percent) occur during the spring and summer months. ("Kids Can’t Fly" Childhood Injury Prevention Program Boston Public Health Commission, 1010 Massachusetts Ave., 2^nd Floor, Boston, MA 02118 (617) 534-5197)

Black children ages 14 and under have a fall-related death rate that is one and a half times higher than that of white children. (SAFEKIDS Coalition, Western Massachusetts SafeKids Coalition Headquarters Baystate Medical Center Children’s Hospital, 759 Chestnut Street, Springfield, MA 01199 (413) 794-5434. www.safekids.org)

Low-income children are more likely to be injured from falls due to deficiencies in the environment, including aging or deteriorating housing. (SAFEKIDS Coalition, Western Massachusetts SafeKids Coalition Headquarters Baystate Medical Center Children’s Hospital, 759 Chestnut Street, Springfield, MA 01199 (413) 794-5434. www.safekids.org)

Related Coverage

Children’s Hospital. (June 29, 1999). Safety tips to prevent window falls. KidSource Online. www.kidsource.com.

The Daily News (New York). (Feb. 20, 1998). Landlord group stresses need for window guards.

Property owners should ensure compliance with laws to prevent injuries to children.

Latour, Francie. (June 1, 1998). Two children injured in window falls. The Boston Globe.

Two children fall from windows in the same day, prevention by supervision and safety guards called for.

Sullivan, Paul. (May 1, 1998). "Kids Can’t Fly" campaign kicks off to prevent warm weather tragedies. The Boston Herald.

Program’s summer kick-off with Mayor Menino’s help, the Boston Public Health Commission lends resources.

Compiled by Leigh Wald

Posted: April 10, 1999
Updated: February 15, 2000