By David Rosenberg /The Media Line
Sharjah saw four children plunge to their deaths in the space of two weeks in late November-early December. Two more followed in Abu Dhabi, one at the end of January 30 and again four days later.
Faced with a spate of falling deaths in the 1970s, New York City undertook a campaign over education and regulations that reduced the number of deaths from 40 to 50 annually to just four by 1980
The three-year-old girl who plunged to her death in January from a fifth floor apartment at Airport Road in Abu Dhabi had nearly met her fate four weeks earlier, when she was rescued by a policeman who noticed her leaning out of a window in her home. Adults are not immune from the problem either: Last week, a 23-year-old Ethiopian cleaning woman met her death after falling.
“Many people don’t use air conditioning, starting in December or November,” Michal Grivna, who teaches in the UAE University’s department of community medicine, told The Media Line. “When there is cooler weather they tend to open the windows instead of using air conditioning.”
At least two of the emirates are now doing something to address the phenomenon. Abu Dhabi’s Municipal Affairs Department announced on March 13 that it was giving homeowners six months to meet new standards of safety. These include rules that windows and balconies must not allow openings in excess of 10cm (4in). Locks and protective measures must also be in place for windows and openings that are less than 1.5m (5ft) above the apartment floor.
A week earlier, Sharjah issued similar instructions, including a requirement that building owners increase the balcony height to at least 1.2m instead of 1m and that windows should be child-proof so that without the aid of an adult they could not be opened wide enough for a child to climb out. Sharjah warned inspectors would crack down on violators, particularly those who use their balconies as storage areas.
Emiratis have heard more than enough chilling stories of deadly falls over the years. In September, a five-year-old who had been left home alone fell eight floors to the street close by his older sister. In shock, the mother, a 33-year-old Iranian, then returned to the apartment and jumped to her death in an apparent suicide.
Official statistics on the number of deaths by window falls are not publicly available because all falls, such as from furniture or in playgrounds, are classified together. But falls are probably the second or third biggest cause of childhood injuries, said Grivna, after traffic accidents and about equal to drownings.
Pressure on the authorities to act is emerging now as UAE residents become more sensitive to child welfare issues in general, said Samia Kazi, the chief operating officer of Arabian Child, an early-child advocacy organisation.
“I think that because there’s becoming increased awareness toward children in general, not just window falling,” Kazi told The Media Line. “More people and more media are talking about children, especially about early-childhood education … so there is generally more focus on child welfare and education.”
Her group began an awareness campaign four years ago. But experts and government officials agree that it will take time because the responsibility for falls lies as much with builders who don’t install proper safety measures as it does with parents who don’t supervise their children.
“When the builders put forth their plans they don’t take into account safety for young children and children with disabilities,” Kazi said.
“There are pressures on families and a lack of awareness. In a lot of cases, it’s parents leaving their children at home because they can’t afford the care or are unprepared or incapable of taking care of children.”
The three-year-old who plunged to her death from an Abu Dhabi apartment last month had been in the care of an aunt who had fallen asleep.
Nevertheless, government action can help, said Grivna. Faced with a spate of falling deaths in the 1970s, New York City undertook a campaign over education and regulations that reduced the number of deaths from 40 to 50 annually to just four by 1980.
A woman posting a comment in the talkbacks section of a local daily said she chose to live in an older, unattractive building because it is safer.
“The windows are so heavy, they could hardly be opened beyond 10cm (double glass, metal frame). Balcony front is concrete, 1.5m high, and we NEVER let kids go there with chairs! Door to balcony is locked during night-time. If they want to gaze outside, they go ONLY with adult. Ugly building but safe.”
Grivna points to three groups of risk factors. The first is the environment, by which he means furniture placed too close to windows or balcony railings that children can climb on. Balconies with horizontal railings also make excellent ersatz ladders, he said. Window barriers, he stressed, should be removable for escape in case of fire.
The second is parental supervision. But he warned that without creating a safe environment as well, that is never enough. “Parent cannot supervise 100% of the time,” he said.
The final risk factor is the children themselves. Grivna said all children present a risk and measures like window bars are appropriate even for children up to age 11. Children under five present a special risk because they cannot under any circumstances be educated on safety.