It's my youngest son's birthday today ... so I guess I was feeling a little sentimental when I read an article from ConsumerReports.org early this morning.
The article was called "Teaming up to prevent TV tipovover" and addressed the deadly concern of TV and furniture tipovers as they related to the deaths of young children. I personally can't imagine anything worse than the loss of a child because of something so preventable as this!
This CR article was especially timely because of the upcoming Olympic Games. Seems many families go out and buy new TV's for this event. Retailers offer attractive prices to reel in new sales because of this popular sporting event.
It was related within this piece that a 4-year-old child was killed when a 32" television fell off a dresser that house
d the TV for viewing in a bedroom.
In the re-creation of this event by CR, the small weight of the child (approximately 50 lbs) was placed in a drawer, with the result being that the dresser fell forward and the television went flying to the ground. The speed and violent nature of the flying TV was so great, that those journalists watching the demonstration were heard gasping.
Can you imagine if you saw or heard this in real life with YOUR own child or someone you cared for? Like I said, maybe I'm feeling a little reflective today ... but it made me shudder. Unfortunately 57 families have had to suffer this fate in the last 8 years or so. Horrific!
So to help those at ActiveRain (and hopefully many more) to guard against this tragedy, I am passing on the suggestions that CR offers for prevention of this accident.
Please read and pass these safety precautions on to anyone you know that has small children around or visiting. It might save a life ...
- Place televisions on furniture that is strong/sturdy and APPROPRIATE for the TV
- Furniture holding the TV should be ANCHORED to the floor or wall using brackets, screws or braces. It is best to use hardware provided by manufacturers.
- Avoid placing TV's on dressers & chests; as children may be tempted to use the drawers to climb and may cause the furniture or TV to topple on to them or the ground.
- Make sure that the TV DOES NOT HANG OVER THE EDGE of the furniture base and that it is positioned as far back as possible.
- Place electrical cords out of a child's reach; and teach children not to play with the cords.
- Keep items that might be attractive to children, such as toys and remote controls, away from the top of the TV or TV stand.
Thank you to ConsumerReports.org for making this problem public, warning of the dangers involved, and offering safety tips for us to follow.
For more information regarding this topic and to see the article in full, go to ConsumerReports.org/safety - or read - ConsumerReports' latest issue.
Gene Mundt, Sr. Vice President
Personal NMLS #216987
The Federal Savings Bank
1823 Centre Point Circle, Naperville, IL 60563
Skype! 630-219-1316
Thanks for a very educational post. I'm going to check my daughter's TV today, to be sure the wall unit is anchored. Joey's at the age where he might start climbing. Again, thanks!
Wow, great advice, I often wondered how the TV's would hold up on those small stands they come with. My daughter did something very similar many years ago when she was two and I had my four drawer filing cabinet in my home office. She got curious and pulled out the bottom drawer to step on then the top drawer to pull on and it fell on top of her, breaking her clavical (sp). I took my TV off that stand and mounted it to the wall.
Margo: My kids were little monkeys with climbing ... so if a typical boy ... steps might need to be taken to protect Joey. I'm really glad that I wrote this post if it helps someone become safer. Thanks for letting me know it made an impression.
URofT: Hope you're daughters doing well. Our son broke his clavical too .. not fun at all. Mounting the TV sounds like a great precautionary measure. Thanks for writing ...
Gene
Wow ,kids are so quick you can;t watch them all the time. I am going to call my kids today to check their TV's.
Gene....Thanks for reminding me why I have wall mounted flat screen tvs. They are mounted with brackets securely attached to the wall leaving nothing for children to climb on. These tragedies are certainly preventable. Thanks for the post.
Terri: Great idea to check about grandkids and visiting toddlers ... you're a great mom and grandma, Terri ...
Carra: So many of the new sets are mounted like you have done ... maybe this will eventually be a non-existent problem? Sure hope so .... you've done your part! Thanks for writing ...
Gene