Child falls out of second story window

HOLLAND, Mich (WOOD) - A toddler was hospitalized Sunday after a frightening fall from the window of a Holland home.

Accidental injury is the number one killer of kids in the United States.

The hospital says Rileigh Gillihan is in fair condition and is beating that statistic.

Her family tells us they're thankful because this near-tragedy could have turned out very differently.

"She was lying that way, I couldn't really see her, because they had her head covered in blankets, because she could freeze, it was raining, we didn't want her to get sick," said Alison Van Deusen.

Alison arrived a the home in Holland to discover a little girl she describes like her sister lying on the gravel driveway.

"I asked her older brothers and sisters, what happened. Her older brother Cole said she fell out of the window," said Van Deusen.

Alison says Rileigh fell out of the second story window.

She thinks her brother may have opened the window near their bunk bed.

"Cole probably got warm in his room, so he opened his window, and Rileigh probably peeked her head out and accidentally fell," said Van Deusen.

24 Hour News 8 went to the experts to determine what parents need to know to protect their kids.

"Young children especially are top heavy, especially their heads. We want to make sure they're very actively supervised, but you never want to put anything by windows, especially toys, cribs, dressers or anything that children can stand on to give them even more access," said Kim Francis of the Safe Kids Coalition.

This family is grateful Rileigh will be able to walk away from the close call.

"Her dad says she is smiling and wanting to run around but they have to keep her there for testing to make sure," said Van Deusen.

The Safe Kids Coalition says in addition to moving items away from windows, another thing parents can do is use window locks or window guards.

Both are available at many hardware stores.


By Jessica Leffler