Television sets probably aren’t on your list of dangers in the home, right? Yet these common pieces of furniture send thousands of children to the hospital every year.
It isn’t because children are watching TV (too much screen time is a concern – but that’s a separate issue). Today we’re talking about the danger of furniture, like television sets, tipping over on children.
About 22,500 children under 18 visit emergency rooms every year because of injuries caused by overturned furniture. That’s according to information from the Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC).
So how do those injuries happen? Generally, they come from climbing. Children spot a toy atop a dresser or bookshelf and decide to find a way to get it. The unfortunate result is that the child’s weight tips the furniture over.
When it comes to television sets, there has been a decline in tip-over accidents. This is likely because more people have wall-mounted television sets. However, television tip-overs do happen when oversized screens are placed on tables or cabinets that can’t support them. What can you do to keep your children safe?
- Anchor top-heavy furniture like dressers, bookshelves, and TVs to the wall using furniture anchors. You can also use brackets or straps. Anti-tip kits are inexpensive and relatively easy to install.
- Parenthood.com suggests removing toys and other enticing objects from the top of your furniture. The goal is to remove the temptation that may cause your child to climb.
- If you mount your television on the wall, be sure to use a mounting kit appropriate for your TV’s size and weight. If you can’t mount your television on the wall, make sure your television is on an appropriately sized stand. You also may want to consider securing your set with a strap or fastener.
- Installing drawer stops on large pieces of furniture with drawers will keep drawers from sliding out all the way. When drawers are over-extended, the weight may cause the furniture to tip. Children may also try to use drawers as steps.
Even when you use these safety precautions, keep in mind that the best way to keep children safe is to keep your eye on them. Prevention is the best safety measure.
