How to Deal With Open Stairs in a High-Rise
Falls by children led to more than 2.5 million emergency visits in 2007, according to the University of Virginia Health System. In single-family homes, parents can maintain stair railings and carpet, attach gates at the top and bottom of the stairs to control movement and enforce safety rules. High-rise apartment buildings are different, as people using the stairs have to rely on others to help keep the path clear and teach kids to respect the potential risk.
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Instructions
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Teach children not to push others or put themselves in unsafe situations by playing on railings or jumping on stairs or landings at the apartment building.
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Keep paths clear on the stairs. Don't allow children or other tenants to place objects on the stairs, such as toys or potted plants. Staircases may be the only route to safety in an emergency, and an open path is necessary to make sure everyone makes it out of the building. Report violations of staircase obstructions to the property manager.
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Contact the apartment building's maintenance supervisor for any repairs. Screws should be tightened in loose handrails, and bunched carpet should be tacked down. Light bulbs in the staircase should be replaced as needed.
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Walk the stairs at a slow, even pace if you have acrophobia, or fear of heights. Keep constant contact with the handrail and tell others that you can't be rushed. Take deep breaths and continue climbing or descending the stairs.
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