You may think these incidents are rare, but 22-thousand children have televisions and dressers fall on top of them every year. In 2011, 60 children were admitted to trauma services with serious injuries.
20 percent of those injuries were from televisions alone. From 2000 to 2010 245 children under the age of eight died from home furnishings toppling over them. 67 percent of those deaths were from head injuries and again more than half were from TV's.
Here to tell us more is Carlos Flores with Children's Hospital's Safe Kids Coalition.
The CPSC recommends:
To prevent tragedies follow these safety tips in any home where children live or visit:
- Anchor furniture to the wall or the floor.
- Place TVs on sturdy, low bases.
- Or, anchor the furniture and the TV on top of it, and push the TV as far back on the furniture as possible.
- Keep remote controls, toys, and other items that might attract children off TV stands or furniture.
- Keep TV and/or cable cords out of reach of children.
- Make sure freestanding kitchen ranges and stoves are installed with anti-tip brackets.
- Supervise children in rooms where these safety tips have not been followed.
To download a 2-minute PSA in broadcast quality, including a demonstration of simulated tip-over incidents, visit
https://rcpt.yousendit.com/1241071902/9180c88037a4e88c0a018ad49d916b83 (English)
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