Falls from High Rise Apartments

In April 2002, a three-year-old boy fell 18 storeys to his death from the window of a Toronto apartment building. Several children have died in that area alone after falling out of windows. One report dating back to 1976 said there had been 16 such fatalities in the previous 10 year period in the city.

From a survey of 15 children's hospitals across the country between 1990 and 2000, Health Canada statistics reveal that 362 children ended up at emergency wards after falling from windows. Most of the victims were between one and four years old, including 32 with concussions, 43 with skull fractures, and 52 with fractures to limbs.

The model National Building Code 1995 has requirements for houses and small residential buildings that address this risk. However, there is no similar requirement for buildings four storeys and higher. The Canada Safety Council has contacted the Canadian Commission on Building and Fire Codes to ask that it address this issue.

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		Falls from High Rise Apartments In April 2002, a three-year-old boy fell 18 storeys to his death from the window of a Toronto apartment building. Several children have died in that area alone after falling out of windows. One report dating back to 1976 said there had been 16 such fatalities in the previous 10 year period in the city. From a survey of 15 children's hospitals across the country between 1990 and 2000, Health Canada statistics reveal that 362 children ended up at emergency wards after falling from windows. Most of the victims were between one and four years old, including 32 with concussions, 43 with skull fractures, and 52 with fractures to limbs. The model National Building Code 1995 has requirements for houses and small residential buildings that address this risk. However, there is no similar requirement for buildings four storeys and higher. The Canada Safety Council has contacted the Canadian Commission on Building and Fire Codes to ask that it address this issue. Return to top of page			Safety Canada October 2002 Elmer the Safety Elephant Texas Study (2003)