CPSC Launches Nation’s Largest Campaign to Prevent Injuries and Death from Tip-Overs

CPSC Launches Nation’s Largest Campaign to Prevent Injuries and Death from Tip-Overs

The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) launched a national public education campaign this year to help bring awareness and prevent injuries and deaths from tip-overs.

Tip-overs can occur as a result of large furniture and TVs not being anchored to the wall. It is a hidden hazard that causes 38,000 Americans to go to the emergency room every year. On average a child is killed every two weeks as a result of a tip-over incident. Between 2000 and 2013, 84 percent of the deaths reported to CPSC were tip-overs involving children under the age of ten. Due to the fact that most parents are unaware of how dangerous this hidden hazard can be, CPSC wanted to bring safety advocates together to help educate parents and caregivers.

There are a safety tips you can practice to keep your child safe and support the Anchor It! Campaign. Buy and install low cost anchoring devices to prevent furniture from tipping. The CPSC reported that a television tipping over from an average size dresser falls with thousands of pounds of force and is like being caught between two NFL linemen colliding at full speed – ten times. Always mount your TV or push base back as far as possible if anchoring is not possible. Another helpful solution is to avoid leaving items such as remote controls and toys where kids may be tempted to reach or climb for them. Storing heavier items on lower shelves and drawers will also help in addition to anchoring furniture. Always make sure if you are replacing or moving furniture that wherever you move it, you don’t forget to anchor it.

For more information on preventing tip-overs or on the anchor it campaign, you can visit http://www.anchorit.gov/.