New National Study Finds More Than 40 Percent Increase in Number of Injuries from Furniture Tip-overs

A recent study conducted by the Center for Injury Research and Policy of The Research Institute at Nationwide Children’s Hospital found that from 1990-2007 an average of nearly 15,000 children younger than 18 years of age visited emergency departments annually for injuries received from furniture tip-overs.

According to the study, published in the online issue of Clinical Pediatrics in May, most furniture tip-over-related injuries occurred among children younger than 7 years of age and resulted from televisions tipping over. More than one quarter of the injuries occurred when children pulled over or climbed on furniture. Children ages 10-17 years were more likely to suffer injuries from desks, cabinets or bookshelves tipping over. Head and neck injuries were most common among younger children, while children older than 9 years were more likely to suffer injuries to the lower body.

Despite warnings from the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission, the number of injuries involving televisions and other furniture tipping over onto children has increased in this country since the early 1990s.

The Katie Elise Lambert Foundation deeply appreciates the efforts of The Research Institute at Nationwide Children’s Hospital and urges everyone to download, print, or read this report on furniture tip-overs. Reading this study could save a life.

The study was researched and written by Bethany L. Gottesman, Lara B. McKenzie, PhD, MA, Kristen A. Conner, MPH, and Gary A. Smith, MD, DrPH.