Falling TV sets and furniture claim a significant number of young lives in the United States, a federal report says.
The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) released a report Thursday which found 349 people died between 2000 to 2011, after television sets, furniture or other appliances toppled over them. Of the total cases, 84 percent were children below the age of nine.
The Commission also found death rates going up in 2011 (41), compared to 2010 (31) and 2009 (27).
According to CPSC, more than 43,000 individuals, including 25,000 children (59 percent) are admitted to emergency departments to treat tip-over related injuries every year.
Falling televisions claim the lives of more than half of the children (62 percent) and a significant number of children get injured by a falling furniture item (52 percent).
In most cases, children suffered severe head injury by the falling item. A majority of the cases occurred in bedrooms (40 percent) than living or family rooms (19 percent).
As flat screens are taking the place of older versions, families often shift their old TV sets to their bedrooms, without making proper arrangements to keep them, CPSC while explaining the high mortality rates involved with bedroom TVs, said.
Concerned with the findings, the Commission urged parents to remain vigilant and avoid such occurrences in the future.
"We know that low-cost anchoring devices are effective in preventing tip-over incidents," CPSC chairman Inez Tenenbaum said in a news release. "I urge parents to anchor their TVs, furniture and appliances and protect their children. It takes just a few minutes to do and it can save lives."
Following are some tips from the CPSC to ensure the safety of children:
* Fix furniture properly on the wall or floor
* Keep TVs on proper, sturdy stands
* Do not keep toys, remote controls or other items attractive to children on TV stands or furniture
* Install anti-tip brackets on freestanding kitchen ranges and stoves
* Monitor small children while they are in bedrooms
* Keep cable and TV cords away from children
