Fatal high-rise falls: Safety locks out of supply

As the number of children falling from high-rise building apartments has been dramatic this month, shops selling window safety lockers are running out of supply.

After the fifth child falling to his death from a high-rise building apartment floor this month commotion seems to be high among both policy makers and concerned parents. While new regulations are formed by the Department of Municipality Affairs to require property owners to attach safety locks on all windows, the window lock is already selling like hot cakes.

"Last week we ran out of window safety locks, and now we have only ten of them left. We will have a new delivery of the item in two to three weeks," says Marisol Bunaj, sales representative at Ikea Dubai, adding that there are no plans to expand the usual order.

Ikea is one of the few stores selling the product, and has seen a run on the item ever since the absurd number of children dying because they fell from an open window or balcony started to become clear.

Click here to read about recent fatal high-rise falls

"Many parents have come to Ikea lately, asking for these safety locks," says Marisol, admitting that she does not know of any other place selling the locks.

The window safety lock has clearly increased in popularity since the rate of children falling from the window or the balcony of high-rise building apartments reached heartbreaking heights. The aluminium or metal lock that can be screwed onto your window to prevent it from being opened by the impulsive movements of a child could make many parents feel safer, and is therefore becoming a highly desired purchase.

But, it is hard to find, as not only the number of shops selling the item is limited, but the popularity of the object has led to a decrease in stock too.

On woman

Expat women are asking each other for help, because they do not know where they can buy the safety lock. As one woman says, Ikea used to have a particular window lock, one that was permitted by the landlord to attach to the window, but they ran out.

Although the new regulations requiring the landlord to supply all apartments with the safety measures needed will mature early next year, parents who are on hot coals should either rush themselves to Ikea right now, or wait for a couple of weeks for the new delivery.

"In two to three weeks we will have an extra 50 in both the Ikea outlet in Dubai and Abu Dhabi," says Marisol.

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