Number of children killed by televisions is on the rise
December 10, 2009
A study in the U.S. has revealed shocking statistics about the number of children who are injured or killed by televisions falling on them. The study, which was by the Centre for Injury Research and Policy at the Nationwide Children’s Hospital based in Ohio, has reported that between 1990 and 2007 the number of children visiting accident and emergency hospital departments because of furniture falling on them was around 15,000. Of those approximately half were taken to hospital because of televisions falling on them. The study shows that in 2002, 9,300 people in the U.K. visited hospitals because of television related accidents. Many of these patients were children who had received injuries after a television set had toppled on to them.
Spokesman for the Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents, Errol Taylor said that with Christmas just around the corner now was the time to warn people about the dangers of flat-screen televisions. He said that many people would be buying a new set for Christmas and that the dangers posed to young people should be highlighted.
In the past year and a half four toddlers in the U.K. have died because of televisions falling on them. RoSPa advises all those who own wide-screen televisions to make sure that they are placed on a wide, solid surface and firmly secured. They also say that if owners are going to attach them to a wall they should first make sure that the wall is solid. Researchers say that it is children under the age of seven who are most at risk.
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