by Allison Micarelli-Sokoloff
September 28, 2010

The Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) estimates that hazards inside the home injure or kill about 2.5 million children each year. Childproofing may seem like another item on the to-do list, but unlike folding a load of laundry or emptying the dishwasher, this task can’t be ignored and shouldn’t be delayed.

Once a baby can crawl around on his own, a house needs to be inspected and childproofed—for example, small items a baby may pick up and put into his mouth need to be removed or placed on shelves high up off the floor. Once a baby is walking and climbing, parents needs to be aware of the risk for tipovers and take measures to protect their children from injury.

Earlier this week, the CPSC released a statement urging parents and caregivers to inspect and secure televisions, furniture, and appliances, acknowledging that on average, one child dies every two weeks due to tipovers.

Between 2000 and 2008, the CPSC received reports of nearly 200 tipover-related deaths involving children 8 years old and younger; 93 percent of these fatalities involved children 5 years old and younger. The deaths, or injuries, occur when children climb onto, fall against, or pull themselves up on television stands, shelves, bookcases, dressers, desks, chests, and appliances.

To help prevent tipovers, the CPSC offers the following safety tips:

• Ensure the stability of furniture. Anchor heavy dressers, television sets, and media cabinets to the floor or wall.

• Use a sturdy low-rise television stand and place the TV as far back on the stand as possible.

• Hide, cover, or place electrical cords and outlets far from little hands and educate your children on the dangers of electricity.

• Give kids less reason to be around heavy furniture. Don’t keep tempting objects such as remote controls, portable phones, candles, or jewelry on media cabinets or dressers.

• Install anti-tip brackets on appliances.