HELP REDUCE THE RISK OF INJURIES TO YOUNG CHILDREN FROM TOPPLING TELEVISION SETS

One of the goals of the Hotel Fun 4 Kids™ Program is to remind Hotels and Resorts about dangers that may be present to children staying at Hotels.  

As a Partner with Safe Kids Canada we wish to promote safety and reduce any risks to children, including the risk of Television sets toppling over on young children.  

While most injuries resulting from television sets toppling over happen in a home environment, this danger may also be present in hotel rooms and children's play rooms.

Over 100 children a year in Canada visit the hospital emergency room as result of a television set falling on them or toppling over.   While data is not available for unreported injuries, many more likely occur that do not result in a hospital visit.

Half of the injuries, which may be anything from a crushed finger to head injuries, broken bones, crushed nerves and internal injuries, resulted when the television fell from a simple stand or cart.  The remainder occurred when the television fell from a wall unit, dresser or other shelving.  

In the United States between 8,000 and 10,000 people visit the emergency room annually for injuries resulting from tipped over furniture, including television sets, and about 6 deaths annually, mostly children, are reported to the Consumer Product Safety Commission. 

Children aged one to three years are the most commonly injured and the reason the problem seems to be growing is the design of television sets and the amount of time children spend around them, some of which may not be closely supervised.

Televisions with bigger screens and smaller backs create a reduced stability - as a result of the heavier fronts - making them easier to tip over.  Many of the common stands used for television sets were not designed for the larger, heavier sets we see today.

The following recommendations from Safe Kids Canada may help to reduce the risk of injury as a result of television sets toppling over:

• Keep the television on low sturdy furniture

• Place the television set as far back as possible on the furniture - where children may not be able to reach it.

• Remind parents not to let children climb on furniture.

• Ensure cords are placed out of reach from young children - keep them behind furniture.

• Use anchors, angle-braces or furniture straps to secure heavy furniture to the wall (even if the television set is not on it).

Please feel free to contact us about any safety concerns you may have at services@hotelfun4kids.com. 

Acknowledgements:

The Hospital for Sick Children - Kids Health - www.sickkids.ca 

Safe Kids Canada - www.safekidscanada.ca

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