Every two weeks a child dies due to a falling piece of furniture or an appliance, according to a recent report by the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC). However, the agency urged that these deaths can be prevented with education and awareness, specifically calling parents and guardians to carefully examine these kinds of items and either fasten or anchor pieces that have any chance of falling.
From 2000 to 2010, the CPSC received accounts of 245 tip-over accidents that resulted in fatalities of children 8-years-old and younger. Over 90 percent of those accidents included kids 5-years-old and younger. Approximately 67 percent of these cases involved fatal trauma to the head. Additionally, from 2008 to 2010, over 22,000 kids 8 years of age or under are given medical care in hospital emergency rooms each year for these types of injuries. Similar to the fatalities, most of the injuries (56 percent) are trauma to the head. And 70 percent of these incidents involved televisions, while only 27 percent included furniture alone.
The most familiar tip-over situations include small children who unknowingly climb on, attempt to pull themselves up, or fall into some kind of weighty furniture or appliance. The CPSC offers of the following tips to help stop these types of tragic accidents:
- Always fasten movable items to the wall or ground.
- Anchor both the furniture and the television on top of it.
- Place the television as far back on the stand as possible.
- Keep toys, remotes, or other enticing items away from stands to avoid attracting kids’ attentions.
- Make sure cords cannot be reached by children.
- Ensure that any freestanding appliances are equipped with anti-tipping mechanisms.
- Always supervise children in rooms with these items regardless of the precautions.
Has your child been injured in a furniture or appliance tip-over accident that you believe was the fault of manufacturing errors or the failure to warn? Contact the Oklahoma dangerous product attorneys with Maples Law Firm at (405) 705-5050 for case guidance today.
