A child was taken to hospital with critical injuries on Wednesday after falling from a fourth-floor balcony of a residential building near Abbott Street in Stittsville. The Ottawa Paramedic Service received the emergency call around 5:20 p.m. on June 3.
Emergency Response
Paramedics worked to stabilize the child on scene and during transport to the hospital, where they remained in life-threatening condition, said public information officer Marc-Antoine Deschamps. Neither paramedics nor the Ottawa Police Service released the gender or age of the child.
Police Advisory
With warmer weather prompting residents to open windows and balcony doors, police urged families to have age-appropriate conversations about the dangers of windows, screens, railings, and balconies. This advisory comes after three similar incidents involving young children falling from high-rise buildings in the past month.
“Our thoughts are with everyone affected by this heartbreaking incident,” police said in a news release on June 4. “These events are devastating and highlight how quickly and unexpectedly falls can occur.”
Safety Recommendations
Police recommended the following safety measures:
- Install and use child-proof window locks or window guards where appropriate.
- Do not rely on window screens to prevent falls, as they are designed only to keep insects out.
- Keep furniture, beds, and other climbable items away from windows and balcony railings.
- Limit children’s access to balconies unless directly supervised by a responsible adult.
- Regularly check that windows, doors, locks, and safety devices function properly.
