A child was taken to the hospital Wednesday with “critical injuries” 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 Wednesday, June 3.
“Paramedics tried to stabilize their condition on scene and during their transport to the hospital, where they were in life-threatening condition,” public information officer Marc-Antoine Deschamps said.
Neither paramedics nor the Ottawa Police Service released the gender or age of the child.
“Our thoughts are with everyone affected by this heartbreaking incident,” police said in a news release on June 4.
With warmer weather coming to Ottawa and residential windows and balcony doors being opened, police urged families and caregivers to have “age-appropriate conversations about the dangers posed by windows, screens, railings, and balconies.”
That advisory came amid a series of similar incidents. In the news release, police said they had responded to three incidents involving young children falling from high-rise buildings during the past month.
“These events are devastating and highlight how quickly and unexpectedly falls can occur,” the statement said.
Safety measures suggested by police included:
- 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 items that can be climbed away from windows and balcony railings.
- Limit children’s access to balconies unless they’re being directly supervised by a responsible adult.
- Regularly check that windows, doors, locks, and safety devices function properly.
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