 If you ever spend any time with a small child, you quickly learn they love to climb. While a jungle gym or other outdoor playground equipment is the proper place for such activities, small children will climb on just about anything. Thus, the next two notices from the Consumer Products Safety Commission (CPSC) should be of interest to all who live with or care for young children.On Sept. 12, the CPSC issued a warning about the dangers of TVs and heavy furniture tipping over and killing young children. According to the CPSC Acting Chairman Nancy Nord, “There are usually five deaths reported to CPSC each year caused by televisions tipping over onto young children, but we are aware of 10 deaths already in 2006.”
The injuries and deaths often occur as children climb on, fall against or pull themselves up on TV stands, shelves, bookcases, dressers, desks and chests. In addition, TVs placed on top of furniture can fall off causing traumatic or sometimes fatal injures.
Here are a few suggestions to avoid such disasters:
Verify that the furniture is stable on its own. For added security, anchor to the floor or attach to a wall all entertainment centers, TV stands, shelving, bookcases and bureaus by using the appropriate brackets or toggles available at most hardware, discount or home improvement stores.
Place TVs on low-rise bases or sturdy furniture appropriate for the size of the TV. In addition, push the TV as far back as possible.
Remove items which might tempt children to climb. This is not the place to store toys, stuffed animals or even the TV remote control.
Prevention is always the key in keeping small children safe.
CPSC recall
In addition to the above warning, a recall was also announced. In cooperation with the CPSC, Pier 1 Imports, Inc is voluntarily recalling about 4,300 Ming TV stands. According the release, “If a consumer leans on the stand’s drawer when open, the unit can tilt forward and cause a television on top to slide off, posing a risk of injury or death.”
Pier 1 has not received any reports of injuries in the U.S. but has received a report of a death of a young child in Canada. It occurred when a TV fell off the stand.
The Ming TV Stand, SKU 2065368 is a brown wooden cabinet that sits directly on the floor and measures 35½ inches wide, 17¾ inches deep and 23½ inches high. It contains an open storage space between its top shelf and its single bottom drawer. The stands were sold at Pier 1 stores nationwide and on-line through its website from August 2005 through February 2006 for about $250.
Customers should immediately remove TVs or other heavy items from these stands. The stands should be returned to a Pier 1 Imports store for a refund or merchandise credit. For additional information, contact Pier 1’s Customer Service at 1-800-245-4595, prompt 6, between 8 a.m. and 11 p.m. Central Time Monday through Saturday and 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. Sunday. For more information, visit the company’s Web site at www.pier1.com.
Bonnie Throckmorton is a consumer advocate in Onslow County. Contact her by e-mail at bonnie@freedomenc.com.
By BONNIE THROCKMORTON |
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