Girl falls out of fifth-story window

SPRINGFIELD, Mass. (WWLP) - It's an accident that is unfortunately all too common...

A 10 year-old girl is in the hospital with serious injuries after falling out of a fifth-story window.

The incident took place around 5:30pm Sunday night, at the Burgen  Apartments on Girard Avenue in Springfield. The girl was with her parents, who were visiting friends at the apartment complex.

In an exclusive interview with 22News, the girl's grandmother said her granddaughter has autism, and that she didn't understand the dangers of being so close to a window.

At this time, it's unclear whether the child opened the window, or the window was already open. But police say the screen was found lying on the ground next to the girl after she fell.

22News is working for you with some tips that may prevent accidents like this from happening:

1. You should never assume a screen is enough; If a child leans on it, even a toddler's weight is enough to push it out.

2. Open windows from the top, not the bottom.

3. Don't put furniture or beds near windows, and don't let kids play near them either.

4. Most importantly, never leave a child unattended.