Tvs Can Injure Kids

How about that shocking headline? Although most parents do not consider furniture and TVs to be dangerous, children are often injured when these items tip over.

A study conducted by the Center for Injury Research and Policy of The Research Institute at Nationwide Children’s Hospital found that nearly 15,000 children younger than age 18 go to ERs annually for injuries received from furniture tip-overs.

According to the study, published in Clinical Pediatrics, most furniture tip-over-related injuries occurred among children younger than age 7 and resulted from TVs tipping over. More than one quarter of the injuries occurred when children pulled over or climbed on furniture.

Older children were more likely to suffer injuries from desks, cabinets, or bookshelves tipping over. Head and neck injuries were most common among younger children, while children older than age 9 were more likely to suffer injuries to the lower body.

Despite warnings from the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission, the number of tip-over injuries has increased since the early 1990s.

Parents can reduce risks to children by placing TVs low to the ground and near the back of their stands and strapping televisions and furniture to the wall with safety straps or L-brackets. Purchase furniture with wide legs or with solid bases. Install drawer stops on chests of drawers, and place heavy items close to the floor on shelves.

Also, parents can reduce a child’s desire to climb furniture by not placing attractive items, such as toys or the remote control, high on top of furniture or the TV.