Falling TVs Kill: Anchor Yours Before The Game, NY Officials Beg

NEW YORK — With millions of New Yorkers getting ready to watch the Super Bowl on Sunday, officials at the State Division of Consumer Protection are warning about the dangers of television tip-over hazards. From 2000 to 2018, 441 children under 18 died from tip-over incidents involving TVs or furniture, according to the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission.

TVs made it onto Mental Floss's list of 11 Mundane Objects That Are Statistically Deadlier Than Sharks.

As for visits to the ER, there are around 12,000 television-related (or TV plus furniture) emergency department-treated injuries annually involving TVs falling, according to a Consumer Product Safety Commission study. The causes vary. Many times, it's a child climbing up to get equipment such as remotes or video game controllers. Other times, when drawers are opened the furniture becomes imbalanced.

If you're going to someone else's house for the Super Bowl, especially if children will be playing in another part of the home or away from the adult game-watchers, check to make sure that there are no TV and/or furniture tipping hazards in that area that could be especially dangerous to unattended or wandering children, officials at the New York State Division of Consumer Protection recommend.

Here are their other tips to protect you and children from TV tip-over incidents:

• When buying a new TV, be sure you position it on a sturdy, low base and push it back as close to the wall as possible.
• Secure the TV to the wall with straps or brackets.
• If you mount your new flat screen on the wall, consider having it mounted or installed by a professional.
• Avoid homemade brackets and shelving – They might not be appropriate for the new device.
• Make sure all heavy furniture is secured, and do not place TVs, whether new or not-so-new, on bedroom furniture, dressers, and particularly, children’s or nursery furniture.
• Avoid climbing temptations – Never leave or store items, such as toys or remotes, above TVs or on top of furniture where children might be tempted to climb on the furniture or TV trying to reach them.

And while you're at it, secure the TV cables and cords to keep them out of reach. Exposed cords and wires between outlets and the screen create hazards for everyone, they said.