One Child Dies Every Three Weeks from a TV Tipping Over

New Report Reveals a 31% Increase in Injuries from TV Tip-Overs in the Last 10 Years

Brighton, Mich. – A new report released in December by Safe Kids Worldwide and SANUS revealed that every three weeks, a child dies from a television tipping over and nearly 13,000 more children are injured each year in the U.S. This represents a 31 percent increase in TV tip-over related injuries over the last ten years.

The results of the report, A Report to the Nation on Home Safety: The Dangers of TV Tip-Overs, include data from the Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) and new findings from Safe Kids Worldwide primary research. According to the CPSC, from 2000-2010, on average, a child dies every three weeks.

The report shows that young children are at greatest risk of TV tip-overs. According to the research, 7 out of 10 children injured by TV tip-overs are 5 years old or younger. This age group also accounts for 9 out of 10 serious injuries requiring hospitalization, including head injuries, which are among the most severe.

“Every 45 minutes, or less than the length of a Sesame Street episode, a child somewhere in the U.S. visits the ER because of a TV tipping over,” said Amber Kroeker, Safe Kids Huron Valley Coordinator and Injury Prevention Health Educator for the University of Michigan Mott Children’s Hospital. Securing your TV to the wall will go a long way in protecting your children.”

Many TV tip-overs are a result of unsteady TVs that are not secured to the wall. In fact, the report revealed that three out of four parents don’t secure their TV to the wall. Most families are unaware that securing a TV is an important safety measure. Others decide not to mount their TVs because of concerns about damaging the wall or installing the TV incorrectly.

Flat screen TVs that are top-heavy with narrow bases can be easily pulled off an entertainment center or table. Large and heavy old-style cathode ray tube (CRT) TVs placed on dressers or high furniture can also tip over if children climb the drawers to reach a remote control, a piece of candy, a video game or anything else that attracts their attention.

“Remember, a curious, determined child can topple a TV in less than one minute,” said Kroeker.

Safe Kids Huron Valley encourages parents to do a quick TV safety check in your home and secure your TV to the wall to ensure the safety of your children.

For more information, please visit www.safekids.org.   

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About Safe Kids Huron Valley

Safe Kids Huron Valley, which includes Livingston and Washtenaw counties, works to prevent unintentional childhood injury, the leading cause of death and disability to children through age 14. Safe Kids Huron Valley is a member of Safe Kids Michigan and Safe Kids Worldwide, a global network of organizations dedicated to preventing unintentional injury. Safe Kids Huron Valley is proudly led by University of Michigan C.S. Mott Children’s Hospital.  For more information about Safe Kids, visit:  www.safekids.org or www.michigansafekids.org.  For more information about Safe Kids Huron Valley, visit us on Facebook.