Stop The Falls
Falls are the leading cause of non-fatal injuries for children from birth to age 19. Every day, about 8,000 children in the U.S. visit emergency rooms for fall-related injuries. Many of these injuries are preventable with simple measures that keep children safe.
Stop the Falls Coalition
Since 2002, the Stop The Falls Coalition has been working to prevent window fall-related injuries and fatalities in Chicago. This citywide effort, led by the Injury Free Coalition for Kids, brings together a dedicated team, including:
- Physicians and staff from leading hospitals like Lurie Children’s, Stroger Hospital, Comer Children’s, Mt. Sinai Hospital, and Rush University Medical Center.
- Representatives from the Illinois and Chicago Departments of Public Health.
- Local architects, public health students, and families impacted by window falls.
Prior to the start of the campaign, there were 30 window falls in the city of Chicago in 2001. By 2016, window falls had decreased by more than 50%.
How You Can Help Prevent Falls
The installation of window guards, window sash stops, and/or window stoppers to keep window openings less than 4-inches can prevent window falls among for young children. These life-saving injury prevention devices are relatively inexpensive and available at local hardware stores.


Download this flyer in English
Download this flyer in Spanish
Additional Resources
For more window safety tips and recommendations, please visit the following sites:
- Injury Free Coalition for Kids
- Centers for Disease Control and Prevention: Fall Prevention
- Safe Kids Worldwide: Fall Prevention
Contact Us
For information on the Injury Prevention & Research Center (IPRC) at Lurie Children's, please contact:Karen Sheehan, MD, MPH, Medical Director, at 312.227.7038 or at ksheehan@luriechildrens.org.