Photo courtesy of SafeKids.org
In nearly every home we go into for babyproofing evaluations we see a TV that is not properly secured - everything from huge older-style TVs weighing hundreds of pounds resting on top of a dresser to brand new 60+ inch flat screens that are sitting on top of a coffee table. Many parents have no idea of the danger that toppling televisions and other heavy furniture pose to children.
A new study by Dr. Gary Smith, a pediatrician at Nationwide Children’s Hospital in Columbus, Ohio has some scary statistics:
“A child’s dying once every three weeks from a TV tip-over. The numbers are going up. This is a call to action. These are 100 percent preventable injuries.” In addition, more than 12,000 children were injured in 2011, an increase of over 125% since these statistics started being tracked in 1990.
It's not just the large TVs causing the injuries, either. The study reports that when injury statistics mentioned the size of the television involved, in more than 60% of the cases the TV was 26" or smaller.
Here are some tips from SafeKids.org on what to look for in your own home:
- Assess the stability of the TVs in your home.
- Mount flat-screen TVs to the wall to prevent them from toppling off stands. Follow the manufacturer’s instructions to ensure that you have a secure fit.
- If you have a large, heavy, old-style cathode ray tube (CRT) TV, place it on a low, stable piece of furniture.
- Use brackets, braces or wall straps to secure unstable or top-heavy furniture to the wall.
We also suggest watching this video reported by Jeff Rossen of NBC's Today Show:
We at Safe Nest Babyproofing are experts in evaluating your home for tip-over dangers and creating safer situations. If you have any questions about the best way to secure TVs or furniture in your home, please call us at 404-333-1083 to discuss at no-charge. Or, if you feel more comfortable having one of our experts secure your home's furniture and TVs, please schedule an in-home evaluation with us.