Parents could be setting a death trap for their children by leaving tables and chairs against the railings of their balconies Kidsafe warned today.

Dr Mark Stokes, President of Kidsafe Victoria said, ?The lucky escape of a two year boy who fell 2m head-first onto concrete from a balcony in Preston yesterday has highlighted the need for some public education on a rising danger.?  

?The two-year-old boy apparently climbed onto a balcony table and overbalanced, dropping two metres onto concrete.?

Dr Stokes warned,? With the rapid expansion of apartment numbers, there are literally tens of thousands of balconies throughout Melbourne with tables and chairs. Balconies and entertainment decks are also a popular addition to the family holiday.?

?A one metre fall is enough to kill or seriously injure a toddler.? 

?The chair and table combination left against the safety railing can act as a simple set of steps for toddlers.  A toddler can easily climb onto a chair and then onto the top of the table placing them in a very dangerous situation. They are top heavy, have no understanding of the danger of heights and there is no barrier to stop them falling.?

Dr Stokes said, "Even if people living in an apartment do not have children themselves, visitors with toddlers can pose the same danger. A number of deaths and serious injuries have occurred in the past twelve months with children falling from apartment balconies and open windows.?

?Kidsafe is urging all people living in apartments with tables and chairs to implement their own safety plan by keeping the table and chair combination away from their balustrades and treat the balcony with the same as a backyard swimming pool by not letting children on the balcony without supervision.?