RALEIGH, N.C. — Tip over accidents involving furniture happen in an instant, sometimes even when parents are right there.
A
report released today shows that over the course of two decades, 592 people were killed in tip-over accidents. 81% involved kids and 70% of child deaths involved televisions. Many could have been prevented by using safety tethers that only cost a few dollars.
Super Bowl LVII airs Sunday on FOX 50 and retailers often put TVs on sale to entice people to upgrade their screen’s ahead of the big game. It’s such a big TV buying time, that the Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) is using it to remind you to anchor your TV and furniture.
"Spend that $20 on an anchoring kit and give yourself some peace of mind," said Pam Springs with the CPSC.
CPSC's new report also estimates there were approximately 19,400 emergency room visits a year from tip-over accidents from 2019-2021, an improvement over previous years.
"But we still got some work to do," Springs said.
Spring said starting May 24th,
new rules take effect for furniture that could be used to store clothing.
"More stringent testing practices to ensure that furniture is more stable," Springs explained.
Proof of that testing will start appearing on furniture labels.
5 On Your Side spoke to Jeremiah Music outside a Best Buy as he was exchanging a TV mount. Music has two dogs and nephews that come to visit.
"It’s always a scramble to put things up, tether things to the wall," Music explained about those visits.
He agreed having to make those adjustments gives him a different awareness of the safety of his house.
"Very much so, we realize very quickly how not child proof our home is," Music said.
One thing Music says he doesn’t have to worry about are his TVs. He says he mounts them to the wall where little hands can’t reach and tests out their strength before putting up a TV.
"I usually hang on it to be honest with you. I pull on it and if it doesn’t come out of the wall, I think its in there pretty good," Music said.
If you can’t anchor something, you can move TVs to the back of a low sturdy base or store heavier items on the lowest shelves or drawers, and don’t put toys or remotes where kids may be tempted to climb to reach them.
