A 3-year-old girl was discovered unconscious on a Glendale sidewalk Wednesday evening after what officials say appeared to be a fall from an apartment window. Emergency responders rushed her to Cohen Children’s Medical Center, while officers cordoned off a section of Myrtle Avenue so investigators could examine the scene. Relatives stayed nearby as authorities said the case remained under investigation.
Police were called around 6:45 p.m. to the corner of 64th Street and Myrtle Avenue and taped off the sidewalk in front of AA Relax Spa at 64-06 Myrtle Avenue after witnesses reported that the child had fallen from an upper-floor window. Medics treated the girl at the scene before taking her to Cohen Children’s in New Hyde Park, where she was later described as critical but stable, according to the New York Post.
Window Safety and City Rules
New York City requires landlords of multiunit buildings to install approved window guards in apartments where a child 10 or younger lives, or when tenants ask for them, according to the Department of Housing Preservation and Development. City health officials say window guards and limiting devices have significantly reduced falls over the years, per the NYC Health Department. See HPD and the NYC Health Department for more details and safety guidance.
“I just want to know what happened,” the girl’s aunt told the New York Post, as relatives remained at the scene. Police told the outlet they were looking into the circumstances of the fall and had not released additional information.
How Neighbors Can Help
Tenants are urged to request window guards in writing and can report problems by calling 311; HPD’s Emergency Repair Program can step in to arrange installations when property owners do not comply, according to HPD. Families seeking prevention tips or more details on window-fall safety can review materials provided by the NYC Health Department…