FIFTY Australians a week are injured by toppling furniture or televisions – don’t let anyone in your family add to those statistics.
Since 2001, at least 22 children under 9 have died from injuries caused by fallen TV’s or furniture.
Children under 3 are at greatest risk.
The ACCC, in partnership with Kidsafe, has launched a national awareness on campaign to stop those numbers rising.
Parents are urged to check their homes for potentially deadly and dangerous situations caused by unstable furniture.
That includes book cases, drawers, wardriobes, side boards and tvs.
Melanie Courtney, CEO of Kidsafe Victoria, said that children’s curiosity and lack of awareness of danger placed them at increased risk of injury.
“Children are naturally inquisitive and common household furniture can look very different and interesting from a toddler’s perspective,” she said.
“They may see items of furniture like bookcases and shelves as a ladder to gain access to reach an item that is stored up high.”
Buy Safe
• Purchase low-set furniture or furniture with sturdy, stable and broad bases.
• Look for furniture that comes with safety information or equipment for anchoring it to the walls.
• Test the furniture in the shop – make sure it is stable. For example, pull out top drawers of a chest of drawers and apply a little pressure to see how stable it is. Make sure the drawers do not fall out easily.
Use Safe
• Attach, mount, bolt or otherwise secure furniture to walls and floors.
• Do not put heavy items on top shelves of bookcases.
• Secure televisions to the wall.
• Discourage small children from climbing on furniture.
• Do not put tempting items such as favorite toys on top of furniture that encourage children to climb up and reach.
• Do not place unstable furniture near where children play.
• Put locking devices on all drawers to prevent children opening them and using them as steps.
ACCC Research Report – Consumer awareness of furniture stability risks and prevention
