CHICAGO — The number of tickets issued by the city for unsafe windows that could allow a child to slip through and plummet to the ground jumped 28 percent in 2016, Chicago officials said Wednesday.
City officials renewed their effort to warn parents and caregivers of the danger of open windows with a campaign titled Kids Can't Fly.
In 2016, 2,613 building owners were ticketed for unsafe windows — up sharply from the 2,045 tickets issued in 2015, officials said.
City law requires every door opening and every window to have 16-mesh-per-inch screens in place from April 15 to Nov. 15. In addition, screen doors must have a self-closing device.
City officials recommend that parents and caregivers install operable window guards on windows and limit window openings to 4 inches or less.
"Each year we see children killed or injured following a fall from a window," Building Department Commissioner Judy Frydland said. "Residents are encouraged to call 311 if they see windows that present a potential danger and a building inspector will be sent out."
Property owners who refuse to fix the window could be fined $200-$500, said Mimi Simon, a spokeswoman for the Department of Buildings.
In addition, city officials recommend that beds, dressers and cribs be placed away from windows to prevent children from climbing onto window sills.
For more information, go to childwindowsafety.com.
