The Big Game: Prevent TV Tip-Overs

Monday, February 01, 2016

The biggest national game of the year is less than one week away and many families across the country are gearing up for game day celebrations.

Because TVs will be such a large part of the festivities this weekend the doctors and experts at the Comprehensive Children’s Injury Center (CCIC) at Cincinnati Children’s Hospital Medical Center are sharing injury risks associated with TV tip overs and some steps you can take to keep kids safe during this weekend and throughout the year.

A study published in the August 2013 issue of Pediatrics found that more than 17,000 children are treated in U.S. emergency departments each year for a television tip over-related injury – approximately one child every 30 minutes.

The study found that children under five-years-old represented the majority of injured patients and nearly three quarters of those injuries are caused by TVs falling onto the child. In almost half of the cases studied, the television fell from a dresser or armoire, and about 30 percent fell from an entertainment center or TV stand.

Facts provided by Safe Kids Worldwide state that every three weeks a child dies from a television tipping over. Over the past 10 years, a child visited the emergency room every 45 minutes because of a TV tipping over.

TVs of all sizes are potential hazards, but big screens and older style “box TVs” are of particular concern because they are so heavy. Newer flat screen TVs can also be top heavy and unsteady on their base, making them easier to tip.

The cords on all TVs can also be a problem, as children can pull on the cord causing the TV to fall on top of them.

The doctors and experts from the CCIC give the following tips to help prevent TV tip-overs:

1. Place TVs on low, stable pieces of furniture
2. Install safety anchors or anti-tip devices on every TV that is not mounted to a wall
3. Do not put remote controls or toys on top of TVs – lessening the chances that a child will try to climb and reach them
4. Keep cords out of reach so the child can’t pull on them
5. Recycle any old TVs that you are no longer using

The doctors encourage all adults to make sure that TVs are all placed properly and safely secured. A few minutes and some anchors can help keep kids out of the emergency department.

*This information originally appeared on the Cincinnati Children’s blog.

About Cincinnati Children's

Cincinnati Children’s Hospital Medical Center ranks third in the nation among all Honor Roll hospitals in U.S. News & World Report’s 2015 Best Children’s Hospitals. It is also ranked in the top 10 for all 10 pediatric specialties, including a #1 ranking in pulmonology and #2 in cancer and in nephrology. Cincinnati Children’s, a non-profit organization, is one of the top three recipients of pediatric research grants from the National Institutes of Health, and a research and teaching affiliate of the University of Cincinnati College of Medicine. The medical center is internationally recognized for improving child health and transforming delivery of care through fully integrated, globally recognized research, education and innovation. Additional information can be found at www.cincinnatichildrens.org. Connect on the Cincinnati Children’s blog, via Facebook and on Twitter.