Got a new TV? Be careful where you put the old one
January 22, 2010 3:27 PM
The allure of watching two marquee sporting events—the Super Bowl and the Winter Olympics—on a new flat-screen TV is sending sports fans to the store to snatch up post-holiday bargains. But prices aren't the only things that are falling. The number of children killed or injured by tumbling televisions is on the rise as more customers replace their clunkers with sleeker sets.
While the reason isn't exactly clear, it's likely that when a new set takes over the primary viewing spot, the old one is relegated to another room and placed atop a piece of furniture not intended for that purpose. With the TV unsecured, it can easily topple off its perch.
Each year about 14,700 people go to emergency rooms suffering from furniture-inflicted injuries, according to the Center for Injury Research at Nationwide Children's Hospital in Ohio. Half of the incidents are caused by televisions. The rate of injuries has risen from 18.8 per 100,000 people in 1990 to 22.9 in 2007, according to the research. The Consumer Product Safety Commission has similar data and says that the number of deaths from TV tip overs rose from seven in 2000 to 23 in 2006.
According to the Associated Press, a 2-year-old New Jersey boy died December 7 when he tipped over a chest of drawers holding a large TV set. A 10-month-old Philadelphia boy was critically injured December 10 when a television fell on him. And an 11-month-old Phoenix girl died in November after her toddler brother pulled a television off its stand while trying to change the channel.
"Every day, in this country, about 40 young children are rushed to emergency departments with injuries after a heavy piece of furniture has fallen on them," said Gary Smith, director of the Ohio injury research center and a member of the team that conducted the study. "This is not a small problem; it's a common problem, and it's increasing."
As we've advised before:
While the reason isn't exactly clear, it's likely that when a new set takes over the primary viewing spot, the old one is relegated to another room and placed atop a piece of furniture not intended for that purpose. With the TV unsecured, it can easily topple off its perch.
Each year about 14,700 people go to emergency rooms suffering from furniture-inflicted injuries, according to the Center for Injury Research at Nationwide Children's Hospital in Ohio. Half of the incidents are caused by televisions. The rate of injuries has risen from 18.8 per 100,000 people in 1990 to 22.9 in 2007, according to the research. The Consumer Product Safety Commission has similar data and says that the number of deaths from TV tip overs rose from seven in 2000 to 23 in 2006.
According to the Associated Press, a 2-year-old New Jersey boy died December 7 when he tipped over a chest of drawers holding a large TV set. A 10-month-old Philadelphia boy was critically injured December 10 when a television fell on him. And an 11-month-old Phoenix girl died in November after her toddler brother pulled a television off its stand while trying to change the channel.
"Every day, in this country, about 40 young children are rushed to emergency departments with injuries after a heavy piece of furniture has fallen on them," said Gary Smith, director of the Ohio injury research center and a member of the team that conducted the study. "This is not a small problem; it's a common problem, and it's increasing."
As we've advised before:
- Place televisions on sturdy furniture appropriate for the size of the TV or on a low-rise base.
- Push the TV as far back as possible from the front of its stand.
- Place electrical cords out of a child's reach, and teach children not to play with the cords.
- Remove items from the top of the TV and furniture that might tempt kids to climb, such as toys and remote controls.
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Comments:
1
Pierre Fauteux
February 15, 2010 8:00 AM
RE: TV Tip Overs
My 84 mother got a larger 28 inch used TV set from my brother. He installed it on the same TV stand she had her 19 inch TV set on.
A few days later, wanting to vacuum her rug, she tried to move the stand (a typical TV stand with casters) and because the larger TV was much heavier and higher, the casters couldn't roll properly on the carpet and the stand tilted forward. The large TV slid off the stand and toppled over. She couldn't get back fast enough and the heavy TV broke her leg. This was the beginning of the end since she was immobilized for six months and never recuperated from the inactivity. I think you should extend your tip-over warning to this type of danger.
Thank You
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