Safety

All freestanding wardrobes, cabinets, bookcases, hutches armoires and entertainment centers, etc., should be anchored or tethered into a beam in the wall. (Both the furniture piece anchored to beam and beam anchored to furniture.)

All drawers, including dresser drawers should have locking devices. (small children may use the bottom drawers as steps causing the piece to tip.)

television sets, VCRS/DVD players, stereo systems should be placed low to the ground with TV sets placed as far back as possible..

Speakers should be anchored into a wall or beam.

Refrigerator doors, oven doors, as well as cabinets should have locking devices. Children may use a door as a swing causing the appliance to tip.

It is estimated that 8,000 to 10,000 children are injured each year as the result of tipping furniture. Approximately 6 children a year die as a result of injuries sustained from tipping furniture.

As it stands now, there are no mandatory standards in which furniture manufacturers must follow. All standards are voluntary. Warning labels, safety brackets, or tethers are not required to be placed on furniture or the boxes in which they come in. In order to prevent more tragedies, these laws must be changed. Please take a few seconds to pass this website along to anyone who has children or have children visit in their homes. By doing this, you may help to save an innocent life.