Tower block safety

[RLOU30]

Not an AIBU more of a would you, I guess

In March due to redundancy our house fell through. Me and my 2 year old son have had to move into a tower block (9th floor) in East London. The block had recently undergone a refurb with new safety windows/balcony etc but I still felt sick at the thought and had constant nightmares about him falling. I am an anxious person and suffer intrusive thoughts. We have been here two weeks and all is going well and I felt a little more comfortable although still mindful.

I don’t want to take nothing away from what an absolute tragedy this is but yesterday a 2 year old boy down the road fell from the 9th floor towerblock and sadly died. Same age, same floor level and area that we are in. Ashamed as I am I feel like this is a warning sign, I can’t sleep and want to pack my bags and stay anywhere but here. I can’t imagine what those poor parents are going through but I opened the news article and reading the headline was so similar to what I had been feeling I thought has time somehow stopped and I’m reading about myself :(

I know I’m mostly irrational but would you have a toddler in a tower block and feel safe?

Do you have other options? Can you fit a safety latch on windows? Never open door to balcony?

I’m thinking maybe to block the balcony door access with my sofa. Unfortunately they are floor to ceiling glass sliding doors and it’s like a greenhouse in there atm but it’s probably the best move

YANBU to worry but do you think you’d worry regardless? I suffer with anxiety and I’m in a first floor flat and I always worry about my son falling out of the window as well as a million other things. Take all precautions and get help for your anxiety. Statistically you’re probably no more likely to have an accident there than anywhere else.

I guess so. Me and my brother grew up in this ninth floor flat. It’s been rented out since we moved out aged 6 & 12 and I’ve just returned with my son for a while.
A lot of the comments on the news article were like “never live in high rises with you children” and how stupid it is and it’s made me feel like I’ve put him in danger.
I am on long term treatment plan for my anxiety and OCD.

Oh, you poor thing. I'm not an anxious person at all, but can totally see where you're coming from on this.
Do what you can to 'toddler proof' your flat, and it will all be fine

I grew up in a high rise but nothing ever happened. I think it’s all very unfortunate that the sad accident happened just as you moved in adding to your anxiety.

Are you going to live in the flat for a long tile or it is just temporary? Is there someone you can review your treatment plan to see what can be done to help you further?

A toddler falling from a 1st floor storey would suffer serious injury, if not death. Are ground floor flats/bungalows your only option?

Could you get some sort of mesh fencing and hook it up so it covers the area when the door is open as it would still allow air to flow, a toddler would be able to climb over a sofa by 3 if they wanted to.

Can you put up nets?
They use them a lot in Singapore and throughout Asia.
They are a fine steel mesh or nylon so they don’t effect your view but mean no one can fall.

Like these ones?
www.kidpro.eu/index.html

Put restrictors on the windows ( as we did in the bedrooms of our house) so they cannot be opened very far

Thanks everyone
@MoistMolly I completely understand that. It’s more the fact that I’ve been having nightmares about it and it’s happened over the road from me in much similarity to my situation.

I’ve locked all the windows to open slightly upwards only. The balcony has netting already but it’s more to stop birds 🐦 and isn’t child proof so I will defiantly look at the steel ones thanks @Mypathtriedtokillme
Have gone and left condolences by the flat this morning, it was harrowing and I kicked myself for making the tragedy relevant to me when it wasn’t, really.