Barrington Hills mom who lost son advocates child-proofing

Lisa Siefert knows all too well the dangers falling furniture and appliances present to children.

In March, the Barrington Hills woman’s 2-year-old son, Shane, died when a combination dresser and changing table tipped over on him.

Today, she’s hoping to use her family’s tragedy to spare others from suffering similar grief. Siefert is working with the organization Safe Kids USA to get the message out on how easily one can prevent the kind of accidents that killed her son and a 6-year-old Arlington Heights boy who died Sunday after a television fell on top of him.

“It’s tragic,” she said of the 6-year-old’s death.

While still awaiting the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission’s report on the furniture involved in her son’s death, Siefert has come to realize that any piece of furniture can be safely and inexpensively secured to a wall.

“A $2 strap is available at all large baby product retailers,” Siefert said, adding that even zip ties, preferably fastened to a stud on the wall, can lessen the likelihood of furniture tipping.

One of the things she considers most important to remind parents of is that every grandparent or caregiver’s home where a child will be spending any significant amount of time must be made safe to the same degree.

Siefert said she’s been partly inspired by the same tips people who live in earthquake zones use to keep their household furniture and other items secured.

Siefert has a 4-year-old daughter for whom her home’s child-proof safety measures are still relevant.