Fatal Fall in Campinas (SP): The Danger of Leaving Windows Unprotected

In mid-May 2026, Campinas (SP) mourned the case of a 3-year-old girl who fell 12 meters from the 4th floor of a building in the Jardim Florence neighborhood. The accident, which tragically resulted in the child's brain death days later, occurred through a bathroom window — the only opening in the entire apartment that lacked a **safety net**. The tragedy highlights a critical and recurring home safety warning: child protection netting cannot tolerate any exceptions.

How the Accident Occurred: The Toilet Step Danger

According to police investigations, the child was under the temporary care of her teenage sister at the time. During a brief moment when the teen went to pick up another family member at the building gate, the toddler entered the bathroom.

Inside the bathroom, she climbed onto the toilet, which was positioned directly below the open window, enabling her to reach the sill. She leaned out, lost balance, and fell. Although rushed by emergency responders to the PUC-Campinas Hospital in critical condition, her brain death was confirmed days later. The family chose to donate her organs.

Sanitary furniture and laundry bins function as immediate steps, giving toddlers quick access to high windows.

The Single Point of Failure: Why Cover 100% of Windows?

Many families decide to invest in safety netting for bedroom windows and living room balconies but leave bathrooms, kitchens, or laundry areas unprotected. This mistake is often driven by false assumptions:

• "The bathroom window is small and is an awning type": Bathroom windows usually open between 15 cm and 25 cm. This gap is wide enough for a toddler (up to 6 years old) to slip through due to their flexible bodies.
• "There is no risk because no one climbs there": In bathrooms and laundry areas, toilets, laundry bins, washbasins, and tubs act as stable climbing steps.
• "It is only one small window": Statistically, falls occur exactly where the protection is missing. It only takes a few seconds of distraction for a child to explore the only open, unprotected window.

ABNT Technical Standards: Demand Quality

The installation of safety nets in residential buildings in Brazil must follow the safety parameters set by the **ABNT NBR 16046** standard.

Netting must be made of high-density virgin polyethylene (HDPE) fibers with secure knots, capable of resisting impacts of up to 500 kg per square meter. In addition, hooks must be secured directly to the building's concrete or brick structure to ensure they cannot pull out under stress.

Correct installation: safety netting secured on bathroom windows with custom aluminum frames ensures protection without blocking window operations or natural ventilation.

Home Safety Checklist for Apartments

To ensure complete protection for your family, inspect your home immediately:

1. Check all openings: Make sure bathrooms, kitchens, laundry areas, and small air shafts have safety netting installed.
2. Replace weathered nets: Safety nets have a technical lifespan of 5 years. Sun (UV rays), rain, and dust weaken the polymer, drastically reducing its strength.
3. Adjust furniture layout: Avoid placing beds, sofas, desks, or trash bins near any window, even those with nets, to discourage climbing behavior.