Do you have any furniture that could tip over? Secure it to the wall and it could save a child’s life.
According to the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission, a child dies every two weeks after a piece of furniture, an appliance, or a TV falls onto him or her. Between 2008 and 2010, an estimated 22,000 children 8 years old and younger were treated in emergency rooms for injuries caused by tip-overs.
What can you do? The CPSC recommends the following:
- 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 top of the furniture as far as possible.
- Keep remote controls, toys, and other items that might be attractive to 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.
If anchor straps do not come with the furniture you bought, they can be found online, in hardware stores, and in some large baby stores.
–Janell Mayo Duncan
Source: CPSC Safety Alert, “Anchor It and Protect a Child.” (viewed 8/12/13)