Young children bouncing right out a second story apartment window

Des Moines, Iowa - A 3-year-old child bouncing on a bed bounced right out a third-story window. I'm done now, but have raised three rambunctious boys who at one time or another liked bouncing on a bed. One bouncing session resulted in the middle child falling off and cutting his head on the bed frame. Taken to the ER the doctor had this to say: "Three little monkey's jumping on a bed; one fell off and broke his head. Momma called the doctor and the doctor said, "That's what they get for jumping on the bed." 

Unfortunately today's story is about this very thing: bouncing on the bed. Except in this instance the young lad bounced right out the second floor window. Luckily this story has a happy ending.

The location is an apartment building at 1636 Hull Avenue, Des Moines. The fall occurred around 11:30 a.m. When the mother discovered the boy he was up and moving, breathing and conscious. It might be a good idea to move the bed far away from the window. Video shown by KCCI-8 News.

I recently read Mike Bryant's post on the InjuryBoard discussing this subject. Mike practices in Minnesota and on May 6, 2010 he posted, Windows Need To Be Child Proofed. He quotes from the Ramsey County Sheriff's Department three tips to help keep children from falling out windows. They include securing all screens, not allow children to play near windows, remove chairs and other furniture from the area and if possible opening the window from the top. The problems are so prevalent in New York that the Department of Health and Mental Hygiene has a Window Falls Prevention Program.

Keep in mind that if you're operating a day care center or even if you have someone else's children under your supervision you could be liable if the child falls out a window and is injured. Our practice area titled Injury Caused by Property Defect is about homeowner or other property owners' liability and how to keep from getting sued.