... everyone with BIG TV sets needs to secure them.
Kids can pull them over on themselves pretty easily.
Here's an awful story to illustrate:
Plano 7-Year-Old Killed After TV Topples Over
Consumers Warned About Dangers Of Falling Televisions
Stephanie Lucero Reporting
(CBS 11 News) PLANO The TVs you own can pose a deadly hazard to your children. A North Texas family knows the anguish firsthand after a television set fell and killed their daughter.
According to Consumer Reports, in the first seven months of 2006, 10 children died after a TV fell on them – that's twice the typical yearly average.
Researchers say the threat of injury generally comes from children pulling a TV onto themselves, after trying to climb on top of furniture, retrieve a toy on top of a TV, or while attempting to change a video or DVD in a player on top of or near the TV.
"A lot of times if your toddlers are used to watching their videos and they somehow learn to change the television themselves, so they will try to climb up on a piece of furniture and turn the television on or change the channel," said Kristen Beckworth, Children's Medical Center.
Plano police say a TV toppled over and killed a 7-year-old girl Tuesday night. The death of McKenzie Cole has been devastating to the girl's family and friends.
McKenzie, who has a twin sister, was a second grader Brinker Elementary School. School officials say a letter concerning the death will be sent home with McKenzie's classmates and her sibling’s classmates.
Recent research conducted by the University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center at Dallas and Children's Medical Center in Dallas focused on the problem of child injuries from falling TVs.
According to the study, an estimated 2,300 children visit emergency rooms annually for injuries due to falling TVs. Most of the victims were between one and seven-years-old.
Eighty-five percent of parents interviewed said they weren't aware of the potential danger.
"I just think it's important for parents to realize that furniture tip-overs are a problem, and they're an increasing problem," said Beckworth. "When you do purchase a new piece of furniture, more specifically a television, make sure you stabilize the furniture, and then stabilize the TV with a strap or a bracket."
The average child watches 20 hours of television a week and with the size of TVs becoming increasingly larger, the danger of a falling TV increases.
Any TV can be a crushing hazard and Consumer Reports advises parents to take steps to keep children safe.
If available, buy the stand specifically designed for your TV by the manufacturer, as well as any hardware to secure the TV to the stand or wall.
If you put your TV on other furniture make sure it's sturdy before you put the TV on it, and that it can handle the TVs weight.
Consider a TV stand that has a lip along the outer edge, which can help keep the TV from being pushed or pulled off. Put a non-skid mat under the TV to make it harder for a child to move it.
Furniture holding a TV should be anchored to the floor or wall using brackets, screws, or braces.
Do not put a TV on furniture with drawers.
Do not place toys, remote controls, or other tempting items on top of TVs or other tall furniture.
Cover outlets with outlet protectors.
Check with your child's school, day-care center, and health-care facilities to ensure that they have properly secured TVs.
Some experts warn that it's not just televisions parents need to worry about. Large appliances, stereos, microwaves and anything a child can pull or push needs to be secured, child-proofed.
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SOURCE =
http://cbs11tv.com/topstories/local_sto ... 93504.html[/u]
