Sir, - I am an ex-police officer with service in three police forces at home and abroad during which I experienced death in all its many forms. Without a shadow of a doubt, the most horrific form is death by fire. If I had nightmares, and I do not, this would be the subject of them.
I am constantly appalled by seeing pictures on the media of homes which have been destroyed by fire involving fatalities, and in the overwhelming majority of such cases the windows are of the type which do not open outwards sufficiently widely to enable an adult to escape. The only opening provided is for ventilation purposes. In effect, the windows are sealed.
The time has long since come and gone when all windows, above the ground floor at least, should be legally obliged to open outwards sufficiently widely without difficulty to enable an adult to escape. The ground floor normally is not nearly so life-threatening as there is invariably a front and a rear door. However, if I were framing the legislation I would insist on at least one window in every room which is intended for occupation being so constructed.
Failure by government to make such obvious and essential escape routes a binding legal requirement is bordering on the criminal.
All parents have a responsibility to ask themselves this question - "If my child was awakened by fire at 3 a.m., could he or she open the bedroom window and escape?"
The answer should be glaringly obvious and if it is "no", the necessary action must be taken, whatever the cost. - Yours, etc., W. G. A. Scott,
Friars Hill, Wicklow.