Furniture and large items such as televisions should be anchored to prevent tip-overs as part of your childproofing plan. While it’s especially important to anchor these items if you have young children, it’s also a good best practice for everyone, particularly older members of your family who may be susceptible to balance issues.
Tip-Over Risks
A Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) report showed that there were 459 reported fatalities related to tip-over involving children between 2000-2018. 93% of those incidents involved children five years old or younger.
Keeping heavier items on lower shelves or in lower drawers can help prevent tip-overs. Don’t display toys, remotes, or other tempting items in places where kids might climb to reach for them. Most importantly, anchor furniture and TVs to avoid an incident.
Anchor to Prevent Tip-Over
According to AnchorIt.gov, you can find anchoring kits, also known as furniture restraints or safety straps, to stabilize your furniture and tv. These kits should include mounting brackets or plates and a connecting strap. They often include screws as well.
One set of brackets or plates will be attached to the object you plan to secure, and the other set will be anchored to the wall. The strap connects them to prevent the object from tipping over. Most anchoring kits are available for less than $20. Some furniture even includes an anchoring kit. You should install it right away to prevent injuries.
Flat-screen TVs can be mounted to the wall with a standard TV wall mount to minimize tip-over risk. If you prefer to house your TV on a piece of furniture, anchor the TV to the wall or the furniture itself.
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.
