Parents, You Still Need to Secure Your Flat Screen TVs
By now, we all know the dangers of old, bulky and ridiculously heavy tube TVs to young children. In recent years, most of us have switched to slicker, lighter flat-screen models that might not seem nearly as deadly if knocked over on a child.
But as Consumer Reports points out, just because flat-screen TVs are lighter doesn’t mean they’re lightweight. Plus, as we moved to the flat screen, we got bigger, says writer James Willcox :
It is true that modern TVs are significantly lighter than older CRTs, but that doesn’t mean they are light, especially in the sheer size that many consumers prefer. For example, the Sony XBR-65A9F 65-inch TV we tested weighs over 78 pounds including the stand. The even larger Hisense 75EU8070, a 75-inch set, weighs in at just over 82 pounds.
According to the US Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC), dozens of children are injured every day from overturning TVs or furniture, and 2-3 people die every month.
Incidents tend to occur in bedrooms and living rooms, especially when the TV is on a dresser (children pull out drawers to climb) or on an unstable or too small surface to withstand, reports Consumer Reports:
Outside bedrooms, today’s larger TVs are often installed on cabinets, tables and media consoles designed for the smaller TVs they replace, which can make them unstable.
Protect your TVs
Whenever possible, it is best to use a properly secured wall mount to keep the TV high off the ground and out of the reach of children. If this is not possible, Consumer Reports suggests securing the TV with anti-rollover straps to a wall or the back of a stand if it is strong enough.
The furniture on which the TV is installed can also be fixed to the floor or wall using staples, screws or staples. If you are using straps, attach them to a rack in the wall, not drywall or plaster, which can bend under pressure.
Use the correct type of stand
Imagine your home as your little child sees it – not as a home, but as a playground where they will run, jump, climb and bump into objects. This is why dressers are especially tempting for kids to climb, especially if they see something shiny and funny upstairs (like a TV remote, toy, or mobile phone) that they want to reach, according to Consumer Reports .
Make sure that the stand or furniture is strong and suitable for the size and weight of the TV, and place the TV as far as possible on the stand, especially if fixing is not possible. If you are placing your new TV on an old TV stand, make sure that no part of the stand or foot protrudes over the edge. If you have an old house with uneven floors, make sure the stand or cabinet doesn’t wobble (insert a spacer if necessary).
All of this applies to both large and small flat screen TVs wherever they are. And don’t forget to also make sure that cords and cables are out of the reach of small children.