How to protect kids from tip-over accidents
Family gatherings and gift giving can send kids into high gear during the holidays, so now is a good time for parents and grandparents to make sure they have safeguarded their homes against household accidents involving falling furniture or TVs.
The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) estimates that tipped furniture or a falling TV sends an injured child to the emergency room every 30 minutes. On average, such accidents cause the death of one child every 10 days.
"Our emergency rooms often treat children for body trauma caused by household accidents, including falling TVs and furniture," said Erik Johnson, Medical Director, Pediatrics, at Amita Health. "These types of accidents are more common than people might think."
Between 2014 and 2016, U.S. emergency rooms collectively treated an average annual total of 15,800 children for injuries caused by tip-over accidents involving furniture, TVs and appliances, CPSC reports. Falling furniture and TVs accounted for 97 percent of those ER visits, and a majority of cases involved kids between 1 and 4.
Between 2000 and 2016, at least 431 children died because of tip-over accidents. Most of the deaths resulted from falling TVs or furniture, and 67 percent of those who died were between 1 and 3½, according to CPSC.
In 2015, the safety commission launched a public education campaign called "Anchor It" (www.anchorit.gov) to reduce the number of injuries and deaths caused by falling TVs and furniture. Yet many parents remain unaware that unsecured TVs and furniture can be dangerous for kids, CPSC says.
Unsecured TVs are particularly hazardous: A TV can fall with 10 times the force of a hit from an NFL lineman. CPSC reports that 65 percent of tip-over fatalities between 2000 and 2016 involved either a falling TV or a TV falling with furniture. Falling furniture by itself accounted for another 29 percent of tip-over fatalities, with falling chests, bureaus and dressers blamed for most of those deaths.
To protect kids, CPSC and child safety organizations recommend these simple, inexpensive steps:
• Mount flat-screen TVs to the wall or to furniture to prevent them from toppling over.
• Place CRT (cathode ray tube) TVs only on low, stable furniture designed to hold them, such as TV stands or media centers. Push the TV as far back on the furniture as possible. If you no longer use your CRT TV, consider recycling it.
• Use an anti-tip device to anchor any non-wall-mounted TV to a wall or TV stand.
• Keep TV and cable cords out of children's reach.
• Use an anti-tip device to anchor unstable or top-heavy furniture of any height to a wall. New furniture such as dressers is sold with anti-tip devices, which should be installed immediately.
• Follow manufacturers' instructions for installing anti-tip devices correctly and for securing TVs and furniture properly. Always check attachment points to make sure anti-tip devices are secure.
• Remove from the tops of TVs and furniture any items - such as toys, food and remote-control devices - that might tempt kids to climb.
• Install stops on dresser drawers to prevent them from being pulled out all the way. Multiple open drawers can cause the weight in a dresser to shift, making it easier for the dresser to fall.
• Make sure to secure other large furniture, such as shelving units, bookcases, armoires and changing tables, as well as appliances, such as washers, dryers and stoves.
• Keep heavier items in lower drawers or on lower shelves.
Anti-tip devices such as brackets, braces and wall straps are available online and in stores. The devices generally range in price from $5 to $25, CPSC says.
"It's easy to overlook the tip-over hazards presented by TVs and furniture," Johnson said. "But taking steps to prevent tip-overs in your home can help prevent a tragedy."
• Amita Health is comprised of nine acute and specialty care hospitals, including Amita Health Alexian Brothers Women and Children's Hospital Hoffman Estates. For more information on pediatric programs, visit www.amitahealth.org.