Child Safety – Preventing TV and Furniture Tip-Overs

The safety and well-being of our children are a top priority in our lives. One area we desire to make safe and secure for our children is in our homes.  This becomes extremely important when we have infants and toddlers to keep safe. As parents and guardians we strive to keep all hazardous chemicals and other items that can be a danger and safety hazard, kept secure and out of reach of their curious little hands.

One area many of us may not think of, or overlook as being a safety hazard to our children is our furniture and TVs.

TV and Furniture Tip-Overs…

Here are some facts you should know from the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC):

You should also know that a 36-inch CRT TV (old-style picture tube model) falling just three feet creates the same momentum as a 1-year-old child falling from a 10-story structure.

And, approximately $8.3 million is spent each year in medical costs to treat children ages 19 and under in health care ERs from TV tip-over injuries.

TV and Furniture Tip-Over Prevention Tips

TV Design: If you are planning on purchasing a new TV and plan to place it atop a TV stand, please take note of the type of feet or stand the set is supported by.

Many TV manufacturers are designing TVs with feet that extend beyond the front and back of the TV’s panel and are located at or near the edge of the screen (See photo at right – or above for mobile devices). These designs are aesthetically pleasing to the eye, and generally, provide good support for the TV panel itself with minimal panel wobble. However, if bumped or pushed forcefully the TV may tip over.

That being said, just about any TV not anchored down can be susceptible to tip-over if bumped or pushed hard enough.

Another design currently being manufactured – although on a smaller scale – and can also be prone to tip-overs are TVs that have boomerang (curved) shaped stands that extend almost the full width of the bottom of the TV panel.

A good recommendation is a TV with a pedestal-type design with a decent-sized base that supports the set from its center. This type of stand design will give the TV very good support and greatly reduce the chance of a tip-over.

Also, be sure the TV cabinet you will be placing your set on is large enough to support its feet or pedestal.

Securing your TV and Furniture –  Your Options:

Since many TV manufacturers are designing stands with more “form over function” designs which can make the display less stable, and means there’s a higher chance that the model you choose may be susceptible to tip-over. In this case, choose an option listed below to secure your TV:

• The best option is to mount your flat-screen HDTV to the wall.
• Secure your TV with TV straps that connect to the back of the set and to a secure spot on the wall behind the set, or to the TV cabinet (stand). An even more secure option is to use a stabilizing solid bar. (See photo at right – above for mobile devices). This not only keeps your TV from tipping forward, but also from tipping backward. Follow all manufacturer’s instructions if using these options. If you have an old-style tube (CRT) TV, place it on a “low” stable piece of furniture.
• Secure your top-heavy and unstable furniture using brackets, braces or wall straps.
• Install stops on dresser drawers to prevent them from being pulled all the way out.

Note: Even if the HDTV you purchase does have what is considered a safe pedestal or stand design, securing it for safety is still highly recommended.

Household Item Placement

• Keep heavier items on lower shelves or in lower drawers
• Do not place TVs on top of dressers, especially tall ones
• Avoid placing remote controls, toys, food, or other items in places where kids may be tempted to climb or reach for them.

Recycle

• Recycle old CRT TVs if they are not being used.

 

Find TV and Furniture strap products here.

Find TV Stabilizing Bar here.

You may also be interested in this best-selling item seen below…

Final Thoughts…

Our children’s safety is of the utmost importance, and this article is intended to bring awareness of the dangers of TV and furniture tip-overs in our homes and elsewhere these hazards may be present. With all of us doing our part we can greatly reduce and even eliminate such tragic accidents.

Please share this article with others so we can continue to spread the word regarding this important topic.

Please take a few moments to watch this video from Safe Kids Worldwide.

I would like to hear your thoughts regarding this article, so please leave your comments.

 

Updated on 9/23/2019