Portland Fire & Rescue, Children's Hospital at Legacy Emanuel Urge Awareness after Eighth Child Falls From Upper Story Window

On July 10th, Portland firefighters responded to a medical call after a 2-year-old child fell out of a second story window at a home located at 1927 SE 41st Avenue. The child reportedly fell 15-20 feet and was transported to OHSU with head injuries.  This is the eighth incident involving a child falling from an upper story window this summer in Oregon and the fourth that Portland Fire & Rescue has responded to.
 
Warm summer weather has arrived in the Portland area and naturally people want to open up their windows to let in the breeze.  Portland Fire & Rescue reminds families and anyone with young children present in the home to be mindful of open windows on upper stories. 

Briefing for Media:

Public Information Officers from Portland Fire & Rescue and The Children's Hospital at Legacy Emanuel will be available from 11:00 am - 12:00 pm today.  All media should gather at the Legacy Emanual Hospital main admitting desk at 11:00 am (located at 2801 N. Gantenbein) and they will be escorted to the Safety Store for the briefing.  Information officers will be on hand to discuss Oregon's string of children falling from upper story windows, demonstrate products that parents can buy to safeguard their upper story windows for children, and provide interviews on yesterday's incident.

The Safety Store is located at:

Legacy Emanuel Medical Center atrium
501 North Graham Street
Portland, OR 97227 (Free curbside valet parking available)
Phone: 503-413-4600
Hours: M-Th 9 am - noon or by appointment. Closed Fridays through Sundays and holidays.

Window falls are predictable and therefore preventable. Parents should:
 
*Keep play away from windows.
*Only allow windows to open 4 inches, and install window stops and/or window guards that can be removed by an adult in an emergency.
*Lock windows when not in use.
*Open windows from the top and use a window stop for the bottom.
*Prevent climbing. Keep furniture and anything a child can climb on away from windows.
*Actively watch children near windows.

Contact Info: PIO Lt. James Ziegler 503-940-6003