Injuries to children are inevitable, but there are steps families can take to try to prevent some of the more dangerous ones, such as tip-over accidents.
According to the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission, tip-over accidents such as falling furniture or televisions injure around 25,000 children every year. Falling television have proved most fatal, accounting for 62 percent of fatal tip-over accidents.
What are the dangers?
Heavy furniture and televisions that are unanchored or anchored incorrectly pose serious dangers to children of all ages. A child is no match for a 100-pound television, and often the injuries associated with tip-overs are to the child’s head and upper body as he or she becomes trapped under the heavy object. As new flat-screen televisions take over living rooms, the older, heavier ones are often moved to bedrooms where accidents can occur. Of the reported fatalities, 40 percent occurred in bedrooms and 19 percent in living rooms.
What can you do?
In an effort to avoid catastrophe, follow these simple tips and make sure your children are safe in every room of the house.
- Make sure televisions are placed on solid, low-based or anchored furniture, nearest to the back of the furniture as possible.
- Furniture should be anchored to the floor or the wall in all rooms.
- Don’t place children’s toys, remotes, etc. on television stands or furniture that might tempt them.
- Cable cords and television cords should be kept out of children’s reach.
- Ensure that kitchen ranges and stoves have anti-tip brackets installed to prevent tip-overs.
- Activity should be monitored in rooms that do not have these safety measures.
Parrish Law Firm, PLLC
works with northern Virginia residents who have suffered a child’s injury. Contact us for a free case consultation or call us at of 703-906-4229.
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