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MILWAUKEE (6/11/2008) - Injuries from furniture tipping on children devastates families every year. According to the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission, 8,000 to 10,000 people, mostly children, go to the emergency room with injuries from furniture tipping over, and approximately six are killed every year.
"These types of furniture injuries occur when children climb on shelves, bookcases, dressers or other furniture," said David Gourlay, MD, medical director of Trauma at Children's Hospital of Wisconsin. "Parents need to know that these injuries occur quickly and can be life-threatening. They need to be aware of these hazards in their homes and take proper safety precautions." Gourlay also is an assistant professor of Pediatric Surgery at the Medical College of Wisconsin.
In 2007, 11 children were admitted to Children's Hospital because furniture had fallen on them. Six of the injuries were from falling televisions. Thus far in 2008, four children have been admitted due to furniture tipping injuries. Injuries ranged from broken bones to severe head injuries.
Safe Kids Worldwide offers easy tips to keep kids safe from furniture tipping:
- If a piece of furniture is top-heavy, fasten it to a wall using angle
braces.
- Use furniture tipping restraints to help prevent chests or drawers,
bookcase shelves, television carts and other heavy furniture from tipping
over.
- Keep heavier items on the lower shelves or in lower drawers.
- Tying up loose cords to prevent children from pulling on the cord, and
possibly tipping an appliance off a stand.
The Katie Elise and Meghan Agnes Act, named after two children that died from furniture tipping accidents, describes the safety and labeling of certain furniture to prevent such accidents. The bill did not pass in committee when it was first introduced, but was reintroduced and currently exists as HR 4266. If it passes, certain furniture will have to be sold with anchoring devices.
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