Furniture deaths: Consumer Reports aims to stop tipping dresser accidents
Consumer Reports is pushing for mandatory safety standards for dressers of all sizes and asserting that families need to make sure all furniture is properly anchored to a wall.
Posted — UpdatedThe risk of a child getting seriously hurt or dying when furniture tips over on top of them is real.
Every 17 minutes, unsecured furniture, appliances or TVs tip over and injure or kill someone. Most victims are children under 6 years old.
Despite popular belief, the danger is not only with tall dressers. New research shows deadly accidents can also happen with those 30 inches and under.
As part of its continued analysis, Consumer Reports tested 17 shorter dresser models. Only five dressers passed all the tests, including the $150 IKEA Nordli. The tests showed that stable, affordable dressers at different heights are possible.
“Companies have the ability to do something about this epidemic," said Rachel Rabkin Peachman, an editor with Consumer Reports. "We’ve found that it is possible to build more stable dressers of any height. And our findings highlight the need for strong safety standards for all dressers, not just taller ones.”
As a result, Consumer Reports is pushing for mandatory safety standards for dressers of all sizes and asserting that families need to make sure all furniture is properly anchored to a wall.
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