WASHINGTON — A 3-year-old boy died Wednesday after falling out of a window in Falls Church.

The Fairfax County police said in a statement that the boy was playing in “an upper-level room” in a home on Magnolia Lane, north of Lacy Boulevard, when he leaned against the screen of an open window. The screen buckled, and the boy fell through at about 12:20 p.m., the police said. He was pronounced dead at a hospital at about 1.

The police said that eight children age 5 and under die every year from falling out windows. They passed on a few safety tips:

• Keep play areas away from windows.
• Keep furniture away from windows in case children climb on them.
• Keep windows closed and locked, especially when children are playing.
• Even when screens are in place, they cannot support the weight of a child.

They also suggested you install hardware that keeps windows from opening more than a couple of inches.