Red Nose recommends taking steps to prevent furniture and TVs from falling and injuring a child.
Furniture becoming unstable poses a potential risk of serious injury to a young child.
Some safety tips include:
- Attach, mount, bolt or secure furniture and televisions to walls and floors.
- Put locking devices on drawers to prevent them from being used as steps.
- Do not put heavy items on the high shelves of bookcases.
- Stop small children from climbing on furniture.
- Do not put tempting items like favourite toys on top of furniture
- Do not place unstable furniture near where children play.
We know you all wish to keep your children safe. To prevent accidents involving furniture. Remember:
- Ensure furniture is secured firmly to walls or floors
- Remove heavy items from the top of bookcases and cupboards, and
- Take measures to stop young children from climbing on furniture.
Why is it so important not to take risks?
Red Nose is aware of injuries of this nature, some being fatal. A two-year-old girl in Western Australia died due to an injury to her chest caused by a television falling on her.
Tragically, this incident was not a one-off; at least 14 children under nine years old died in Australia during 2000–2015 after furniture fell on them. This is almost one death per year.
Research has shown that injuries to children caused by falling televisions have become more frequent and are likely to become more common as TVs increase in size and become more affordable. Chests of drawers, dressing tables and other furniture not designed to support TVs were commonly involved in the incident.
The most severe injuries occur in children under five years of age. Most often affected are toddlers learning to walk who are exploring their surroundings.
Chests and dressing tables become especially unstable when the drawers are opened and can tip over.
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