Welcome to CPSC’s podcast for Friday, September 12, 2008. I’m Patty Davis.

CPSC is warning parents and caregivers about the dangers of furniture, television and appliance tipovers and instability. Nearly 26 people died each year between 2000 and 2006 from tipovers of furniture, televisions and appliances and more than 42,000 were treated in hospital emergency rooms.

CPSC’s Julie Vallese is here to tell you what you need to know to prevent this from happening in your home.

Julie, it’s hard to imagine a piece of furniture, a TV or appliance tipping over and killing or injuring someone. Who is most often hurt or killed from tipovers?

[Julie]: While it may be hard to imagine, it does happen. And parents and caregivers need to pay special attention. Kids younger than 10 made up 80 percent of those killed and 45 percent of those injured.

[Patty]: Why is that? Can you give us a typical scenario?

[Julie]: Well, when you look at a dresser or a bookshelf you see it as a piece of furniture. Kids may actually see it as a ladder or a means to get to something that they really want. So kids may walk up the shelving or the drawers to get things like a stuffed animal, their favorite toy, or even a television remote.

[Patty]: What did CPSC find was the most common type of furniture and appliance to tip over and injure someone?

[Julie]: In 2006, for furniture, it was tables, bookcases, chests, bureaus and dressers. And appliances, it was refrigerators that were most likely to tip over. Televisions on top of a chest, bureau or dresser also tipped over and sent victims to the emergency room.

[Patty]: Most of these incidents take place in people’s homes. What do you recommend that people do to keep their children and themselves safe?

[Julie]: Well first really you should go through your home and verify that the furniture is stable on its own. For added security, attach any large pieces of furniture to the floor. You can anchor it, or attach it with some other devices to make sure that it doesn’t tip over. Place TVs on sturdy furniture that actually is the appropriate size for the television set and push it far back so that it is more difficult to tip over.

[Patty]: Good advice. Thanks Julie.

You can find out more about furniture, television, and appliance tipovers, as well as information about recalls announced by CPSC, at our Web site, www.cpsc.gov. While you’re there, sign up to receive our recall announcements directly to your email inbox. That’s it for this week’s CPSC podcast. Thanks for listening.

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