STOP at 4”: The Campaign to STOP Window Falls

STOP at 4”:
The Campaign to STOP Window Falls
Safe Kids Oregon and Doernbechers Children’s Hospital
Child Injury Prevention Webinar
March 22, 2012
Sandy Nipper, BSN, RN, Child Safety Program Coordinator and Jan Berichon, COTA/L, Health Educator
The Safety Store and Resource Center
Randall Children’s Hospital at Legacy Emanuel
Portland, Oregon

Parker Reck showing off his blue Mohawk!
March 21, 2012 2

PROBLEM:
Unintended Child Injury
“If a disease were killing our children in the
proportions that injuries are, people would be
outraged and demand that this killer be
stopped.”
~ C. Everett Koop, Former US Surgeon General
March 21, 2012 3

SOLUTION: Education and Affordable Product
“Of all the dangers children face today, parents need to focus on the one that is not only
the largest killer of kids, but the one they can do something about – unintentional injury.”
~ Heather Paul, PhD, Exec Dir of the National Safe Kids
Access: To expertise and appropriate product
Affordable: Wholesale and steeply discounted product
Education: About injury risks, layers of protection, proper
selection, installation and use of safety devices
New evidence-based child injury prevention model
pioneered at Johns Hopkins in late 90s:
“Safety Center or Store”
Model incorporates all 3, and we have 3 in Portland!
March 21, 2012 4

A “Safety Store or Center” –
An injury prevention intervention model
NON PROFIT, family-friendly, professionally staffed, child
safety resource center for EVERYONE
> Belmont Firehouse Safety Learning Center and Fire Museum
> Doernbecher's Tom Sargent Safety Center
> Randall Children’s Hospital’s Safety Store and Resource Center
It’s a fun, accessible, comfortable setting
> Steeply discounted safety products
> Individualized, easy-to-understand education
> To help you keep your family safe
At home and at school
On the road and at play!
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The Safety Store and Resource Center!
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Safety products for windows, doors, cabinets, drawers, stoves and more…
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STATE & LOCAL HISTORY:
Child Window Falls
2001: A child died and efforts by an attorney to pass window fall legislation
failed.
2004: Window fall injury issue identified by OHSU’s Injury Free Coalition.
Partnered with Tualatin Valley Fire & Rescue to promote Bugs Out/Kids In
project in Washington County.
2008: Continuing falls issue raises regional, state, and local concern.
Safe Kids Policy & Education Committee revisits issue, considers
legislation, but determines data sources needed first.
2008: Randall Children’s Hospital awarded Safety Store grant and
positions large effort around window safety prevention
and education.
March 21, 2012 8

STATE & LOCAL HISTORY:
Child Window Falls
Spring 2009: Sharp spike in OR residential window falls
> Randall Children’s Hospital: 6 admissions, 1 death in 3 weeks
> Safety Store opens with window fall prevention focus
2009-2010: Safe Kids OR injury prevention collaborative partners with
Randall’s Safety Store and the Reck Family
> Ashley grants TV interview, picked up by CBS Early Show.
> Ashley sparks local campaign with Rotary in home town of Molalla
> Window falls: Safety Store’s #1 in-house/outreach education topic/product
>
November 2010: Pediatric Window Fall Community Forum
> Inspired by non-legislative success of Chicago and Boston
> Hosts Community Forum, convenes Task Force
Spring 2011: STOP at 4”: The Campaign to STOP Window Falls
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The Campaign to STOP Window Falls
www.stopat 4.com
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Children at Risk
Spontaneous, playful
Imaginative, curious
Energetic, persistent
Sound like any
children you know?
Children at Highest Risk
Majority are boys
Under 5
Supervising parents are distracted (meal prep, etc.)
March 21, 2012 11

National, State and Local Statistics
National (Pediatrics, August 2011)
> 5180 falls, 0-17 yo
> 3350 falls, 0-4 yo
> 34% hospital admission rate
> 10-12 deaths per year
> 1000s of broken bones,100s of severe brain injuries
> 70% from 2nd or 3rd story
State of Oregon (2004-2008, Trauma Registry)
> 40-50 per year
> 74% child’s home, 90% 2 story fall
> 70% 0-3 yo, 69% boys
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Benefits of Windows
Lets light in, lets us see out
When closed,
keeps elements out
When open,
allows fresh air in
Screens keep bugs out
Vitally important
secondary means of
escape/rescue in case of
fire/emergency
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Risks Posed by Windows
Open windows pose
fall risk
Insect screens will not
prevent a fall
Blocked emergency
escape/rescue: too
small, broken, painted,
nailed, AC unit, fan,
etc.
March 21, 2012 14

Goals of Window Safety Campaign
To educate homeowners about the use
of windows for emergency escape
and rescue.
To educate caregivers about
preventing falls from windows.
To reduce the number of children who
fall in Oregon by raising awareness
and challenging communities and
families to install window locks and
guards.
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Fire and Emergency Safety Considerations
Doors and windows are 1st then 2nd
means of escape
Escape/rescue requires windows to be
easy to open, screens easy to remove
Make sure window fall prevention devices
have an emergency release mechanism
Devices must be designed to release
without the need for special tools or
special knowledge
Best practice: product meets ASTM
standards
March 21, 2012 16

WINDOW FALL PREVENTION
Keep windows closed and locked when not
in use
Keep furniture or anything a child can
climb away from windows
Teach children about window safety:
“Screens keep bugs out, they don’t keep
kids in”
Establish a Kid-Free Play Zone in front of
window
Problematic advice: “Open from top if
double hung window”. Unlocked windows
can be opened by a child. Install a stop.
March 21, 2012 17

WINDOW FALL PREVENTION
Limit window opening to no more than 4”
by installing a window stop that can be
released by an adult in an emergency
New window purchase: ask for built in
safety devices
IF you open window more than 4”, install
window guards that can be opened by an
adult in an emergency
Strategic landscaping below windows
March 21, 2012 18

WINDOW FALL PREVENTION
Educate everyone who may be caring for
yours or others’ children:
> Grandparents,
> Friends,
> Relatives,
> Childcare providers,
> Neighbors
> Everyone…
Share these websites:
> www.stopat4.com
> www.legacyhealth.org/windowsafety
March 21, 2012 19

Safety Store’s #1 Education Topic and Product
Jan Berichon demonstrates window safety products
March 21, 2012 20

Guardian Angel Window Guard
March 21, 2012 21

Kidco Mesh Window Guard
March 21, 2012 22

Kidco Window Stops
March 21, 2012 23

Take Home Message
Childhood injury is predictable and preventable
Falls top the list of predictable and preventable injuries
Window falls are the most lethal type of fall
Window falls are predictable and preventable
Spread the word:
STOP at 4”: The Campaign to STOP Window Falls
www.STOPat4.com
We hear ya,
Parker!
March 21, 2012 24

Hey, Parker….you da man!!!
March 21, 2012 25

QUESTIONS?
For more information, please contact:
Program development: Sandy Nipper, BSN, RN
Technical information: Jan Berichon, COTA/L
The Safety Store and Resource Center
Randall Children’s Hospital at Legacy Emanuel
Portland, OR
Sandy: 503-413-4443, snipper@lhs.org
Jan: 503-413-4500, jbericho@lhs.org
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Thank you!