CPSC Announces New Furniture Tip Over Statistics on Child Injury and Death

71 Children become Victims every day – that’s 3 per hour!

By Thomas R. Reich PhD

 

The newest major retailer being sued by parents of a badly injured child for alleged faulty furniture tip over is Babies R Us. Along with the manufacturer of their store branded Dresser the law suit states that they did not including tip-restraints and warning labels with the dresser when the product was sold to the consumer.

Consumer Product Safety Commission, who sponsors ASTM (a voluntary standards Organization), catalyzed in part by two bills introduced in the U.S. House of Representatives titled “The Katie Elise and Meghan Agnes Act (HR 2738 2005 and 2009). These acts would have created a law that would have avoided many of the injuries and law suits caused by needless tip and falls of poorly balanced furniture.

HR 2738 asked for warning labels and restraints to be sold with furniture, the bill still sits unacted upon in the Washington gridlock. But the Consumer Product Safety Commission has released ASTM, a voluntary furniture safety standard for warnings and tip restraints.

New Box Products leads the way with its cutting edge “Safe-T-Hold”. This unique patented device has a much more thorough solution than the old fashioned “wall strap” solution.  While the anchor still attaches directly into the furniture and the wall stud, it has a unique removable attachment allowing for temporary movement of the furniture for cleaning, then returning to firm anchoring to the wall.

The old fashioned “strap” or “cable” allows the furniture to begin to fall and greatly increases the possibility of devise failure, resulting in child injury and death. With the New Box Product “Safe-T-Hold”, this risk is alleviated and the children are safe.

The question today is “who should be responsible for preventing tip-overs? Should it be the manufactures? The stores that sell the furniture? The consumers, who are mostly parents, grandparents, and responsible adults who may or may not have children in their home? All three?” asked nonprofit advocacy group Meghan’s Hope.

The New Box Furniture Anchor “Safe-T-Hold” is available in your favorite hardware store and ends the blame game. With a small afternoon project, you can protect you children, grandchildren and guests from becoming a statistic.  Who should be responsible?  No one if the Safe-T-Hold solution is installed!