Life Saving Baby Gear, a must-have for every family!
Last night a Facebook friend of mine shared on Facebook that a three-drawer dresser had tipped and fallen onto her 3 year old when she attempted to pull out one of the drawers herself. Her daughter wasn’t injured and they were right there to help her but it was a reminder that for merely a few dollars, dressers, entertainment centers, armoires and television sets can be attached and/or anchored to the wall preventing unnecessary injury and death.
Minutes later another mother commented on the thread.
Eleanor pulled her 3-drawer dresser over onto herself when she was 2 or 3. She climbed it because she wanted to get something from the top. Thankfully she was fine, but hearing that crash and scream was one of the scariest moments of my life! It’s attached to the wall now of course. -Beth
Beth also went on to say
Eleanor was a very cautious, calm kid and I never would have expected her to climb her dresser. I think sometimes we hear about this type of thing happening but think that our own child wouldn’t do something like that. Never assume that your child won’t try it!
In 2012 the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) released a report that estimated about 43,000 people are injured in a television or furniture tip-over related incident each year, more than 25,000, or 59 percent, of whom are children.
The report also showed that 349 people were killed between 2000 and 2011 by a falling television, appliance or piece of furniture — 84 percent of them were kids younger than 9 years old. Falling televisions were more deadly, accounting for 62 percent of these fatalities. In 2011, a record 41 tip-over related fatalities occurred.
In 2004 Meghan Agnes Beck died at the age of 3, when her dresser fell on her while the rest of the family slept. Her death was preventable. Meghan’s Hope was created by her devastated parents in an effort to spread awareness and promote household safety.
Another quick google search turned up the story of two sisters ages 2 and 3 who died after a dresser fell on them, it’s weight preventing them from breathing.
The list could go on. Sadly these completely preventable accidents happen DAILY. In 2012 the above mentioned CPSC report indicated that three children are injured by a tip-over every hour — or 71 children per day — and one child is killed every two weeks. Seventy percent of injuries involving children were caused by televisions, followed by 26 percent caused by furniture like dressers or tables.
Give the gift of safety!
Sadly baby showers and registries, all about the gift-giving, often overlook furniture and television wall straps. More popular are the cute outfits, matching socks, diaper bags, baby lotions, wash cloths and the like. Your gift might not garner the oohs and ahs of other gifts but we can guarantee you it will be one of the most valued and important gifts you can give.
Not sure where to find such products? Here’s a list for you!
- Safety First Furniture Wall Straps 8pk
- Safety First Furniture Wall Straps + Anti-tip TV Strap
- Stork Flat Screen TV Strap
- Kidco Anti-Tip Furniture Strap
- Mommy’s Helper Tip-Resistant Furniture Brackets
- Anti-Tip Kit, Falling Furniture Prevention Device
These accidents can happen to anyone. It only takes a moment for a curious toddler to tip over a piece of furniture or the television and suffocate. Don’t take a chance. Invest in anti-tip straps for your family or any family you know with young children in the house.
Source:
http://www.cbsnews.com/news/tipping-televisions-kill-record-number-of-us-kids-govt-warns/
http://www.meghanshope.org/
*This post contains affiliate links.
I’m Julie, a former cloth diaper retailer who discovered a passion for the industry. Now, instead of selling cloth diapers, I advocate them and promote small businesses I love who sell and manufacture them.
I’m the wife of a fireman and mother of three. I have a daughter and identical twin sons.
