Safety Guidelines for Kids in Apartment

An apartment or high-rise buildings can be fatal for kids if right preventive measures are not taken. The tragic death of 12-year-old, son of Allan John Venzon Barraza from the terrace of apartment on Cunningham Road Bangalore has brought into light the lack of safety measures in apartments in the City. A majority of the apartment complexes in the city do not have play areas and the absence of playgrounds in many residential areas makes the terrace a tempting option for the children.

Preventative Measures

Residents of apartment complexes which do not have a play area are particularly worried about children sneaking to the terrace to play. Today majority of the apartment complexes in the city do not have play areas and the apartments increasingly have rooftop recreation facilities. There is no rule barring such facilities. The absence of playgrounds in many residential areas makes the terrace or balcony of apartment a tempting option for the children. Following preventative measures helps to ensure that such accidents were not repeated.

• Young children must be supervised by an adult at all times.

• There should be a 1.5 meter high parapet wall topped with iron bar railings and safety nets for the balcony or terrace.

• Ensure there is no violation of fire safety measures, building bye-law, changes in original plan, illegal or extra construction.

• Ensure that the access door is securely locked at all times and put the key where your child cannot possibility reach it.

• Use window guards and stops on windows above the first floor. Window guards are a barrier in front of the window. They are available at local hardware, home renovation or home safety stores.

• The apartment associations or property managers are responsible for ensuring safety measures like fire drills, leakages and cleanliness of the surroundings.

• Children should not play in or on autos, roadways, Balcony or terrace, parking lots etc.

• Make sure that none of your family, friends or guests is allowed to sit on the wall under any circumstances.

• Always place cribs, beds and other furniture away from windows.

• Make sure that there is nothing available to enable any child to climb up and hang over the wall or railings.

A majority of the apartment complexes in the city do not have play areas. The only solution for management associations of all apartment buildings is to do a proper check of their facilities for children. Personal safety and the safety of children are the primary responsibilities of residents themselves. The residents are responsible for themselves and their children. The balcony or terrace of an apartment is not a safe place for children to play. In apartment and high-rise buildings, there should be a proper play area in the grounds for children with adult supervision to keep an eye on them.