3-year-old girl dies nearly a month after falling from 4th storey flat

Her grandmother had left her alone when she went down to the shops

A 3-year-old girl who had fallen from her 4th storey flat after being left alone at home last month was buried yesterday afternoon in Choa Chu Kang Muslim Cemetery.

The cause of her death was pneumonia.

She had fallen from her home in Serangoon North on January 20 at 12.40pm.

She had been left alone after her grandmother went down to go to the shops, reported Chinese newspaper Shin Min Daily News. The windows in the flat did not have grilles.

This is not the first of such cases to happen in Singapore.

What are the precautions all parents should take?

#1 Install grilles on your windows
They prevent your child from falling through an open window. Remember to lock them up if ever opened.

#2 Keep the area around windows clear of any large objects that can be climbable
A child’s curiosity and penchant to climb things means that such things can be used as ladders to reach otherwise unreachable open windows.

#3 Keep an eye out for objects that when thrown, can break windows
Objects include marbles or his pet rock.

#4 Lock the windows when you are not around
Make it a habit- leave a note at the place where you keep your keys so you will be reminded about it whenever you head out.

#5 Teach your child about the dangers of windows and know to keep away from them
Explain to them why such a thing is dangerous instead of just telling them not to do it. If your child is old enough to understand simple instructions, you should make it a firm rule that he’s not allowed to open the window, or climb up the window at all times. Explain the dangers of what can happen if they do so and if it helps, find educational videos online to teach them about this as well.

#6 Never leave your child alone in the house
Do not leave anything to chance. Experts warn against leaving your young child home alone even for a short period of time because as Dr Carol Balhetchet, Senior Director for youth services at the Singapore Children’s Society explains, “Within seconds, a three-year-old can do all sorts of things as they see the world with curiosity”.

News Source: The Straits Times

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