The Consumer Product Safety Commission released a report estimating that 26,660 people are injured by televisions tipping over each year. About 59% of those injured are children. 293 children were killed because of fallen televisions from 2000-2011. In 2011 alone, 41 fatalities were recorded which is up from 31 in 2010 and 27 in 2009.

In response to these findings, the CPSC is urging parents to use anchoring devices on televisions to prevent tip over accidents. Televisions are not the only unseen threat to children. Falling dressers and other furniture account for about 48% of tipping related injuries annually. Overall 43,000 furniture and television tipping accidents occur each year resulting in severe bodily injuries. A large majority of the fatalities related to tipped or fallen furniture are caused by injuries to the child’s head.

The CPSC believes that the increase in television related deaths over the recent years may be due to the increased use of flat screen HDTVs. People often move the older, bulkier TVs to bedrooms where children are often left unattended. 40% of TV related fatalities occur in bedrooms while only 19% occur in living rooms.

The CPSC recommends consumers consider the following guidelines to prevent tip over accidents:

• Furniture that can tip over should be anchored to the wall or floor
• TV’s should be placed on sturdy low bases
• Remote controls, toys, or other items that can attract children should be kept off tipable furniture
• Freestanding kitchen ranges and stoves should have anti-tip brackets.

http://www.cpsc.gov/