Abu Dhabi/Dubai: The recent spate of child deaths from high-rise buildings has sounded the alarm for authorities in the UAE. Two children's deaths in Sharjah within one week this month were tragedies that could have been avoided had the parents taken precautions, said officials.
In a bid to prevent these accidents from happening again, the Higher Committee for Child Protection in the Ministry of Interior announced that it is reviewing building safety and security marks and specifications. The committee is also focusing on the application of the best international security measures and marks to protect children from falling from windows and balconies.
Colonel Faisal Mohammad Al Shimmari, Director of the Ministry of Interior's Child Protection Centre, said that they have prepared awareness brochures in Arabic, English and Urdu to tackle the issue of protecting children from falling from buildings. Safety pointers were issued which can be summarised in two points: maintaining round-the-clock supervision of children and having child-safety locks at all entry and exit points in the house.
The Ministry of Interior's child protection centre called for covering balconies with Perspex sheets and to keep them closed at all times and locked, while the keys have to be kept in a place that cannot be reached by children.
While locked doors and windows can help keep children out of danger, leaving them unattended equally exposes them to risks.
Major General Nasser Lakhraibani Al Nuaimi, Secretary-General of the Office of Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Interior, said that lately it has been noted that the increase in house accidents involving children was a result of their being alone without adult supervision, or as a result of lack of awareness and safety measures.
Meanwhile, in Abu Dhabi, the number of child fatalities from high-rise buildings has decreased as a result of concerted efforts by the Abu Dhabi Civil Defence, a senior official told Gulf News.
Life Safety Code
"Accidents have been reported involving children falling from buildings in the past, but in the last five years, we've strictly implemented a Life Safety Code as well as successful awareness campaigns. As a result, the number of accidents involving children falling from buildings has dropped sharply from one or two accidents per month to one to two every year," Colonel Mohammad Bin Naseeb Al Nuaimi, Director-General, Abu Dhabi Civil Defence, said.
"Among the safety elements that are inspected are windows, which should open up to a certain limit only, and balconies, which must have high railings placed 10 centimetres apart or less to prevent children from leaning over or through the railings and falling," he said.
Al Nuaimi said in 2012 the Civil Defence will launch an initiative with the Higher Committee for Child Safety and emergency response departments to ensure children are evacuated in a safe manner during emergency situations.
"As part of the campaign, we will also provide training for the staff in educational institutions, especially nurseries, so that they know how to handle such situations and evacuate young children safely," he said.
8,000 US children suffer injuries
Abu Dhabi: The Centre for Injury Research and Policy of The Research Institute at Nationwide Children's Hospital found that 5,200 teenagers and children (17 years olds and below) were admitted to US emergency rooms annually from 1990-2008 because of falling accidentally out of windows.
It was also indicated that more than 8,000 injured children are admitted to hospitals annually because of falling out of windows and high places.
The US police blamed the parents of a five-year-old child who fell accidentally out of a window as she was playing unattended to in an adjacent room.
The mother of a young boy was imprisoned for negligence after he fell out of a window on the 13th floor and was released with 391 other prisoners who were set free as a result of a Presidential pardon.
Bad craftsmanship
US statistics show that 29 children fell out of windows and balconies in 2009. One child died while 28 sustained serious injuries.
In 2010, the death toll increased to 16 children and the reason for those accidents were the bad craftsmanship of contractors and building designers.
Ministry of Interior directions
- Parents should have round-the-clock supervision on children in the house especially in locations close to windows and balconies.
- All windows should be locked to ensure the safety of children, especially when the windows are not in use.
- Metal bars should be installed on windows which can prevent children from falling off. The bars should be close to each other in a manner which does not leave any space for children to go between.
- Windows should have shutters that are sturdy enough to endure blows and must not open more than four inches.
- Remove all furniture from locations close to windows.
