Safety campaigners urge people to anchor unstable furniture and TVs

INJURIES from toppling furniture and TVs are landing a number of Australians in hospital, prompting a campaign to safely secure them.

INJURIES from toppling furniture and televisions are landing 50 Australians a week in hospital.

The Australian Competition and Consumer Commission and Kidsafe have launched an awareness campaign urging people to check for potentially deadly unstable bookcases, chests of drawers, wardrobes, sideboards and televisions around their homes.

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Blake Shaw’s parents, Tim and Kirstie, are raising awareness of the dangers of unsecured furniture and TVs. Picture: Rob Leeson.

Since 2001, at least 22 children aged under 9 have died in tip over tragedies.

Those aged under 3 are at greatest risk.

Royal Children’s Hospital trauma service director Dr Warwick Teague said falling furniture could strike and also trap and crush children, causing life-threatening injuries or death.

“Common injuries from TV and furniture tip over incidents result from significant blunt force trauma and include broken bones, brain injuries, crushed chest cavities and even death by asphyxiation,” Dr Teague said.

Victorian Blake Shaw, 3, was killed when a freestanding bookcase fell on him in 2016.

Experts recommend parents and carers secure large TVs and tall or unstable furniture with anchoring devices, buy low-set furniture or furniture with sturdy, stable and deep bases, and install child-resistant drawer locks to prevent drawers from being opened and climbed on.

ACCC acting chair Delia Rickard said anchor kits could be bought cheaply at hardware stores or furniture retailers.

The ACCC would continue to work with retailers to ensure appropriate anchoring devices were supplied; better signs displayed; and warning labels affixed.

Swedish furniture giant IKEA last year relaunched an overseas recall of 17.3 million various drawers and dressers after the death of an eighth child.

@KarenCollierHS