Study Finds Children are At Risk from Toppling TV Sets
Over the last decade, television sets (TV) have become lighter, thinner and more likely to fall over if disturbed. This has caused TVs to become a severe safety hazard for small children. For example, a child may attempt to climb onto furniture to grab a remote control or toy, disturbing the balance of the TV.
A recent study published in the Journal of Neurosurgery: Pediatrics discusses what age groups are at risk and what types of injuries can occur from toppling TV sets. According to the research, which reviewed 29 prior studies from seven countries, 84 percent of injuries involving TV sets occurred at home when adults were not around.
Toddlers between the ages of 1 and 3 years old were most likely to be injured by bumping into or climbing furniture containing TV sets. In addition, 96 percent of fatalities involving toppling TV sets occurred from brain injuries. These types of accidents have become more common as families can afford newer TVs at lower prices. According to the Consumer Product Safety Commission, there were 19,200 TV-related injuries from 2008 to 2010.
For children who survive accidents involving large flat screen televisions, brain injuries can cause lifelong disabilities. Other children may suffer spinal cord injuries and paralysis.
How Can Parents Protect Children From Toppling TV Sets?
Parents can take precautionary steps to ensure their children are safe from falling TVs. TVs should be safely secured to a nearby base or wall and kept away from the edge of furniture. Additionally, toys and other objects of interest should never be kept on top of TVs. Parents can also educate their children on the dangers of playing around large TVs.
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Tags: ChildSafety