How safe is your home? Is your TV secure? Do you have top-heavy furniture?
Furniture tip-overs are one of the top hidden hazards in family homes. According to data from the United States Consumer Product Safety Commission, unstable televisions and large furniture items kill a child every two weeks on average. These deaths are caused by tip-over accidents that are easy to prevent. 38,000 Americans go to the emergency room each year with injuries related to these tip-overs; the majority of those injuries occurred in children under age 5.
In an effort to prevent deaths and injuries related to furniture and TV tip-over, the USCPSC has created an informational website (www.AnchorIt.gov) and a number of public service announcements to help educate citizens. The website includes quick and easy tips for anchoring furniture and televisions to prevent tip-overs.
Safety tips suggested by the CPSC include the following:
- Avoid leaving items like toys and remote controls in areas where children could be tempted to climb to reach them.
- Store heavier items at the bottom of a piece of furniture to help anchor it.
- Install anchoring devices to prevent items from tipping.
- Keep televisions on a sturdy base.
- Mount flat screen TVs.
- Secure furniture that is top heavy.
Furniture tip-overs can lead to serious injuries and even death. If you or a loved one has been injured by a furniture defect that led to a tip-over, contact the Schuerman Law office today. Schuerman Law has been working with personal injury claims for over 40 years. John Schuerman will compassionately advocate for injured individuals as well as their families while fighting for full compensation of their claims. Schuerman Law offers evening and weekend appointments in addition to home and hospital visits. Schedule a free consultation today by calling 1-800-274-0045.
