Children falling from flats: HDB should install window grilles

I hope that the toddler who fell out of a HDB flat window will make a full recovery ("Toddler unconscious after 4-storey fall", The New Paper, Jan22).

This incident has again highlighted the importance of having additional safety features at home such as window grilles, especially when there are young children.

I have highlighted this issue before, but nothing seems to have been done by the authorities to date.

Thus, I urge the Housing Board to at least consider installing window grilles in rental HDB flats, especially where there are families with very young children.

If cost is a problem for tenants who need to have them installed, perhaps Community Services centres or voluntary welfare organisations could help with the costs.

In the last few years, there have been many cases of young children or toddlers suffering from serious injuries or falling to their death because they were left home alone in flats with no grilles. It is time that the relevant authorities step in.

This article was first published on Jan 25, 2016.
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