The Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) says furniture tip-over accidents kill two children a month in this country and cause 33,000 ER visits each year.
Because of those stats, the CPSC recently launched a national public education campaign called “Anchor It!” It hopes to prevent furniture and TV tip-overs from killing and seriously injuring children. This is one of the top hidden hazards in the home, and CPSC’s new safety campaign is aimed at reducing the number of deaths and injuries from tipping furniture and TVs.
You may remember seeing the viral video that shows 2-year-old twin brothers Bode and Brock playing on their dresser when the 100-pound dresser tips over, pinning Brock. His brother spends two minutes trying to nudge him free and finally succeeds.
You can see the video below and hear from experts on how to avoid this from happening to your kids…
Below are some tips CPSC suggests to help you baby proof your home and prevent tip-over accidents:
Anchor and Protect!
These three words are key to childproofing your furniture and TVs.
Children like to climb on furniture. For them, the home is a playground. As you childproof, you may not be aware that unsecured TVs, furniture and appliances are hidden hazards lurking in every room.
To prevent a tip-over tragedy:
— USE STURDY FURNITURE
Televisions should only be placed on furniture designed to hold a television, such as television stands or media centers.
SECURE YOUR TV
Televisions that are not wall mounted should still be anchored to the wall.
MOUNT FLAT-SCREEN TVS
Mount flat-screen TVs to the wall or to furniture to prevent them from toppling over.
FOLLOW INSTRUCTIONS
Follow the manufacturer’s instructions to secure TVs and furniture properly.
LOW AND STABLE – CRT TV
CRT televisions should only be placed on furniture designed to hold a television, and should be anchored to the wall or the TV stand.
SECURE TOP-HEAVY FURNITURE
Existing furniture can be anchored with inexpensive anti-tip brackets. New furniture, such as dressers, are sold with anti-tip devices. Install them right away.
REMOVE TEMPTING OBJECTS
Remove items that might tempt kids to climb, such as toys and remote controls, from the top of the TV and furniture.
IKEA Dresser Recall
Last year, IKEA acknowledged that three toddlers in two years had died when unsecured Ikea dressers fell on them. As a result, IKEA has offered full or partial refunds for 29 million dressers, most of them from the Malm line, many of which were sold over 10 years ago. See the comment below from a ModMomTV reader, who easily received a full refund from IKEA for the recalled dresser she owned.
If you have an IKEA chests of drawers, head over HERE and request a FREE tip-over restraint kit.
I had the IKEA dressers mentioned in the tip-over and got a refund by returning them. Actually, IKEA scheduled a pickup (I couldn’t fit the assembled dressers in my car anyway). Within 3 days of the return, I had received a check for the full purchase amount (because we’d had them before they announced the recall). It was easy and painless – and we ended up putting the money towards a new dresser!
Glad to hear it was a simple process and now your child is safe.