News

Kids Don’t Fly

Dear Parents and Caregivers,

From 1998 to 2008, the Children's Hospital at Westmead in Sydney saw 171 incidences of children brought to hospital as a result of falls from windows and balconies. These incidences included 2 deaths and 169 injuries of varying severity, and the repercussions in terms of emotional stress on families and communities directly affected cannot be understated.

Alspec has taken the initiative to get involved in eliminating these tragic events by taking a leading role in the "Kids Don't Fly" campaign. This campaign aims to raise awareness of this critical child safety issue across the country. Moreover, through our range of Invisi-Gard Stainless Steel Security Products and new KidScreen. Alspec is in a position to directly assist in the provision of a window and balcony treatment solution which eliminates the possibility of a fall.

Nearly all falls happen in the family home. When parents were asked how the fall occurred, often the response was that their child was in their bedroom, had appeared to climb on a piece of furniture close to the window, and that the window was open at the time.

Frequently, while there was a fly screen, in many cases it was loose fitting, broken or broke on contact.

Clearly a flyscreen is insufficient to resist impact from a child, and clearly having the windows closed at all times is not an option. Whilst there is no substitute for parental supervision, there are further steps that can be taken to ensure child safety.

Invisi-Gard Stainless Steel Screens are manufactured from Marine Grade Stainless Steel Mesh retained in an aluminium frame with our patented EGP Extreme Grip Pressure System. The screen forms a formidable barrier that easily withstands the impact requirements of Australian Standards AS5039 for Security Doors and Windows.

KidScreen are a unique patent pending cost effective barrier solution designed specifically for child protection of openable windows. Incorporating the exclusive KidScreen re-inforced polyester mesh or stainless steel mesh allows compliance to various building construction requirements without compromising the look of the window.

When secured correctly, installation of these screens will easily cope with the bumps and knocks of children's houseplay. These screens allow natural ventilation and do not impede the view as would be the case with large unsightly metal bar grilles. Further, the construction of these screens and the high quality of the selected materials ensures they retain their good looks and their functionality for many years.

Alspec is justifiably proud to take part in and directly assist Australian communities by raising awareness of this critical issue, and providing solutions to prevent families from having to go through the trauma of losing or seeing a loved child seriously injured.

The team at Alspec