Furniture, TVs: Keep Secured

Former Le Bonheur patient Brooklyn Barton and director of Emergency Services Barry Gilmore, MD, were featured on the local news last night in a story about the danger of TVs and other household furniture that can tip over. A few years ago, Brooklyn, now 10, was rushed to Le Bonheur, suffering severe brain injury, after a television fell on top of her.

A child is killed once every two weeks by such accidents, according to the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC), which released startling statistics about furniture tip-over-related incidents this fall.

As what happened in Brooklyn's incident, the most common cases involve toddlers or kids who have climbed onto or pulled themselves up on furniture. There are ways to prevent injuries and deaths caused by furniture or TVs tipping over, and parents should take note to ensure that their children are protected.

Here's what the CPSC recommends:

• Anchor furniture to the wall or the floor.
• Place TVs on sturdy, low bases or anchor the furniture and the TV on top of it, and push the TV as far back on the furniture as possible.
• Keep remote controls, toys and other items that might attract children off TV stands or furniture.
• Keep TV and/or cable cords out of reach of children.
• Make sure freestanding kitchen ranges and stoves are installed with anti-tip brackets.
• Supervise children in rooms where these safety tips have not been followed.