“Super Bowl Sunday is coming and no screen is too big, but could be deadly to our little ones? Every 45 minutes, a child is rushed to the ER for injuries caused by televisions that are not properly secured, says Renee McCabe, Injury Prevention and Safety Coordinator at Children’s Hospital of Georgia. Protecting your children from the potential risk of a TV or furniture tip over is a very important part of keeping kids safe. Enjoy the game and keep your kids safe with these tips from Safe Kids:
Check TVs
- Assess the stability of the TVs in your home.
Secure TVs
- Mount flat screen TVs to the wall to reduce the risk of TVs toppling off stands. Follow the manufacturer’s instructions to ensure you protect your wall and have a secure fit.
- If you have a heavier, box-style cathode ray tube (CRT) TV place it on a low, stable piece of furniture that is appropriate for the TV’s size and weight.
Recycle Old TVs
- If you no longer use your CRT TV, consider recycling it. To find a location to safely and easily recycle unwanted TVs, go to GreenerGadgets.org.Here are some step-by-step tips to help.
Secure Furniture
- Use brackets, braces or wall straps to secure unstable or top-heavy furniture to the wall.
- Install stops on dresser drawers to prevent them from being pulled all the way out. Multiple open drawers can cause the weight to shift, making it easier for a dresser to fall.
Rearrange Household Items
- Keep heavier items on lower shelves or in lower drawers.
- Avoid placing remote controls, food, toys or other items in places where kids might be tempted to climb up or reach for them.
