TV Tip-Over Deaths On Rise, New Report Reveals [AUDIO]
With many families purchasing new televisions during the holiday season, a new report released today by Safe Kids Worldwide reveals that every three weeks, a child dies from a television tipping over and nearly 13,000 more children are injured each year in the U.S.
This represents a 30 percent increase in TV tip-over related injuries over the last ten years.
The report includes data from the Consumer Product Safety Commission that shows young children are at greatest risk of TV tip-overs. According to the research, 7 out of 10 children injured by TV tip-overs are 5 years old or younger.
“Every 45 minutes, or less than the length of a Sesame Street episode, a child visits the ER because of a TV tipping over,” said Kate Carr, President and CEO of Safe Kids Worldwide.
Many TV tip-overs are a result of unsteady TVs that are not secured to the wall. Flat screen TVs that are top-heavy with narrow bases can be easily pulled off an entertainment center or table. Large and heavy old-style cathode ray tube (CRT) TVs placed on dressers can tip over if children climb the drawers to reach a remote control, toy, or anything else that attracts their attention.
The report also revealed that three out of four parents don’t secure their TV to the wall. Most families are unaware that securing a TV is an important safety measure. Others decide not to mount their TVs because of concerns about damaging the wall or installing the TV incorrectly.
Safe Kids Worldwide is launching a national effort to prevent injuries from TV and furniture tip-overs and educate communities by calling on families to conduct a quick TV safety check, which includes the following steps:
Check Your TV. Assess the stability of the TVs in your home. Children playing with friends or pets could knock a TV over, while other kids might be tempted to climb up to reach items placed on or near a TV.
Secure Your TV. Securing your TV to the wall is a safer solution. Much like child proofing with a toddler gate or electrical socket cover, TV mounts and furniture straps are necessary precautions for keeping your family safe.
“Just as parents would install a safety lock or gate for their child, we are asking parents to take a closer look at their television sets. Use a furniture strap or mount your tv to the wall to prevent injury,” said Carr.