One child dies every two weeks in the United States when a television, piece of furniture, or appliance tips over and falls on them — and the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) says the majority of American homes have at least one item that is not properly anchored. Between 2000 and 2019, 554 children died from furniture or TV tip-overs. In 2019 alone, an estimated 22,500 people were treated in emergency rooms for tip-over related injuries.
Why Tip-Overs Kill Children
Children are drawn to climb furniture and television stands the same way they approach playground equipment — by pulling open drawers like ladder rungs, reaching for objects on top of furniture, or leaning against unstable units. When the furniture’s center of gravity shifts forward, the entire unit falls — with a weight that children cannot escape. The force of a falling dresser or large TV can be fatal in seconds.
Televisions present a particular hazard because older flat-panel and CRT televisions are heavy and top-heavy, while modern large flat screens are light but sit on narrow bases that tip easily. Both types cause deaths.
The STURDY Act and What It Requires
The STURDY Act established mandatory stability standards for clothing storage units — dressers, chests, and bureaus — requiring that they resist tip-over even with multiple drawers open. Despite this mandatory standard, CPSC continues to issue recalls against non-compliant furniture sold through major retailers and online marketplaces.
What to Do Right Now
- Anchor every dresser, bookcase, wardrobe, and television stand to the wall using anti-tip straps. Anti-tip kits are available at hardware stores for under $20 and take minutes to install.
- Do not allow children to open multiple dresser drawers at the same time — this dramatically shifts the center of gravity.
- Keep heavy items in the lowest drawers possible to lower the center of gravity.
- Place televisions on low, stable furniture with a wide base. Never place a TV on a high dresser or narrow stand.
- Check SaferProducts.gov to verify whether any dresser or furniture in your home has been recalled.
To report a dangerous product or a product-related injury, visit SaferProducts.gov or call CPSC’s Hotline at 800-638-2772.
Source: https://www.cpsc.gov/Safety-Education/Safety-Education-Centers/AnchorItgov
