# Kids killed by falling TVs have people calling for warning labels **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [May 10, 2006, 8:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/kids-killed-by-falling-tvs-have-people-calling-for-warning-labels/356270 "2006-05-10T20:41:28Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Skywatcher](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/skywatcher/32/254_2.png) [@Skywatcher](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Skywatcher)\ **Post date:** [May 10, 2006, 8:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/kids-killed-by-falling-tvs-have-people-calling-for-warning-labels/356270/1 "2006-05-10T20:41:28Z")
> [@](#): > > [Staten Island Advance](http://www.silive.com/news/advance/index.ssf?/base/news/1146143957199800.xml&coll=1&thispage=2) > Accidents involving children being killed or injured when heavy furniture or large television sets fall onto them are becoming increasingly common, according to child safety advocates. > > In April 2005, Democratic Reps. Allyson Schwartz of Philadelphia and James McGovern of Boston introduced legislation which would require the Consumer Products Safety Commission (CPSC) to issue mandatory safety standards to prevent accidents associated with the tip over of furniture and electronic devices, namely large televisions. > > The bill would force manufacturers to put warning labels on their products and supply anchoring devices to secure them in place. It currently sits before the House subcommittee on commerce, trade and consumer protection. > > The bill, called the Katie Elise and Meghan Agnes Act, was named after Katie Elise Lambert of Philadelphia and Meghan Agnes Beck of Boston, both of whom were killed in television accidents. > > Backers of the bill include Where To Turn, a Staten Island crisis relief organization founded by Dennis McKeon of Great Kills, who once headed a support group for Sept. 11, 2001, family members. BOX: One family’s mission to prevent TV tragedies For one Staten Island family, the Brooklyn incident is yet another tragedy that could have been avoided. Their son was killed when a television fell on him in 2005. Now they are pleading for legislation mandating warning labels and anchoring devices for large furnishings. And they offering steps that can be taken so it never happens again. Their compelling story and a report on potentially life-saving safety measures will appear in the Sunday Advance. > [@](#): > > [WPVI, Philadelphia](http://abclocal.go.com/wpvi/story?section=nation_world&id=4129741) > “If there were warning labels, or if there was any awareness that this could be a danger, believe me, the kind of mother I am, I wouldn’t have even let my son have a TV in his room,” Michele DeMeo-Bonsangue told the New York Post. > > Her 8-year-old son was killed in 2005 while playing a video game on a 19-inch television. > > The National Consumer Product Safety Commission said about six children are killed by falling televisions in the United States every year. People, people, people! You don’t live in a weightless environment! We have this thing called “gravity”, a concept that has been known to pretty much everyone for the past 300 years. Gravity is what causes heavy things to not going flying off into space. Destabilize a heavy thing and it will _fall_! Don’t be under a heavy falling thing or you will get _hurt_! What’s next? Pushing for labels that read _Caution! Do not drop on feet!_ on cinderblocks? ---
**Author:** ![Anne\_Neville](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/b9e5f3/32.png) [@Anne\_Neville](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Anne_Neville)\ **Post date:** [May 10, 2006, 8:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/kids-killed-by-falling-tvs-have-people-calling-for-warning-labels/356270/2 "2006-05-10T20:48:14Z")
It would be kind of nice if anchoring devices were required to be included with heavy furniture and TV’s. That way, you’d just automatically have the anchoring device when you bought the furniture- you wouldn’t have to take the extra step of getting one. More people would probably use anchoring devices if that were the case, which probably would save a few lives. ---
**Author:** ![athelas](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/5e9695/32.png) [@athelas](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/athelas)\ **Post date:** [May 10, 2006, 8:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/kids-killed-by-falling-tvs-have-people-calling-for-warning-labels/356270/3 "2006-05-10T20:48:18Z")
Well, they tried to label the packages on gravity, but that proved too expensive. As of now, all objects with nonzero mass must be clearly labeled to indicate their potential for injury if dropped from a height. ---
**Author:** ![Anaamika](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/5f9b8f/32.png) [@Anaamika](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Anaamika)\ **Post date:** [May 10, 2006, 8:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/kids-killed-by-falling-tvs-have-people-calling-for-warning-labels/356270/4 "2006-05-10T20:51:42Z")
I read your quoted text three times trying to find the sense in it. This part “If there were warning labels, or if there was any awareness that this could be a danger, believe me, the kind of mother I am, I wouldn’t have even let my son have a TV in his room,” is the part I keep getting stuck on. What I want to know is, how did they fall? Were they supported properly? Playing video games - OK, I have occasionally jerked the controller hard enough where the cord popped out or the PS itself fell over, but never the TV. And a 19-inch? That’s not light and easily pulled anyway! I am completely befuddled. 😕 From the second article: > [@](#): > > The latest death came Wednesday, when a 27-inch set resting on a rolling stand toppled on top of a 4-year-old Brooklyn girl, police said. I don’t think it should have been on a rolling stand. Or at least I would not put a 27 inch on a rolling stand. > [@](#): > > A 3-year-old Brooklyn boy was killed in a similar incident on April 7, possibly as he was trying to reach a VCR perched on top of the television. Why was he trying to reach it? Don’t we have remotes? [/quote] > [@](#): > > A two-year-old was killed in March by a 37-inch television that fell off a dresser. A dresser? A 37 inch TV on a dresser? We have a nice big dresser and yet I wouldn’t put my 24 inch on there I don’t think, it’s awfully high. I’m still confused. ---
**Author:** ![UncleRojelio](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/unclerojelio/32/3160_2.png) [@UncleRojelio](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/UncleRojelio)\ **Post date:** [May 10, 2006, 8:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/kids-killed-by-falling-tvs-have-people-calling-for-warning-labels/356270/5 "2006-05-10T20:54:43Z")
The kids probably wouldn’t stop to read the labels anyhow. ---
**Author:** ![Otto](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/bbe5ce/32.png) [@Otto](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Otto)\ **Post date:** [May 10, 2006, 9:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/kids-killed-by-falling-tvs-have-people-calling-for-warning-labels/356270/6 "2006-05-10T21:16:21Z")
> [@](#): > > The bill would force manufacturers to put warning labels on their products and supply anchoring devices to secure them in place. It currently sits before the House subcommittee on commerce, trade and consumer protection. Let us hope that it sits unanchored, and falls on the committee. ---
**Author:** ![Skywatcher](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/skywatcher/32/254_2.png) [@Skywatcher](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Skywatcher)\ **Post date:** [May 10, 2006, 9:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/kids-killed-by-falling-tvs-have-people-calling-for-warning-labels/356270/7 "2006-05-10T21:17:57Z")
More from the [Staten Island Advance](http://www.silive.com/news/advance/index.ssf?/base/news/114631666438590.xml&coll=1&thispage=2): > [@](#): > > An unknown number of children have died in accidents involving falling furniture and televisions, but the accidents lead to an estimated 10,000 emergency room visits per year, according to McKeon, who said today’s televisions were more top-heavy than earlier models. Then put them on proper entertainment centers instead of rolling stands or dressers! > [@](#): > > Rep. Allyson Schwartz (D-Pa.), sponsor of the legislation, said she’s at a loss as to why there hasn’t been any movement. Attempts to contact the chair of the subcommittee where the legislation is stuck have been unsuccessful. Maybe the subcommittee has decided they shouldn’t try to legislate common sense? > [@Anaamika](#): > > I don’t think it should have been on a rolling stand. Or at least I would not put a 27 inch on a rolling stand. I wonder if there was a warning label on the stand. ---
**Author:** ![Mighty\_Girl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/7bcc69/32.png) [@Mighty\_Girl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mighty_Girl)\ **Post date:** [May 10, 2006, 9:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/kids-killed-by-falling-tvs-have-people-calling-for-warning-labels/356270/8 "2006-05-10T21:41:20Z")
Oh my, my! Say it ain’t so. I was going to play catch with the kid using our (very large and heavy) TV set. It’s a good thing I read this here, I could have hurt her. My kid broke her lip on our tile floor last night. I would also like to suggest a warning label on floors, I am sure many kids hurt themselves when they fall. I am planning on sueing those conniving Spaniards for producing defective tiles. ---
**Author:** ![RickJay](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/bb73d2/32.png) [@RickJay](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RickJay)\ **Post date:** [May 10, 2006, 9:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/kids-killed-by-falling-tvs-have-people-calling-for-warning-labels/356270/9 "2006-05-10T21:51:01Z")
> [@Anaamika](#): > > II don’t think it should have been on a rolling stand. Or at least I would not put a 27 inch on a rolling stand. Why was he trying to reach it? Don’t we have remotes? Well, I’m not sure that would make me feel better if my kid was hurt in this manner. I think you’re all sort of missing the point here; the group is not asking that big TVs be banned, but simply that a few minor safety measures be taken. Good safety practice is about preventive measures, not just “Well, don’t be stupid.” All children can act stupidly. What’s so wrong about asking that anchoring devices be shipped along with televisions and such? If we simply adopted the “Well, only stupid people get hurt, so we shouldn’t do (preventive safety measure X)” then we would not have seat belts, motorcycle helmets, level rail crossing guards, ground wired appliances, GFCI outlets, hard hats, safety boots, reflective anything, crosswalks, baby-proof bottles, or any number of safety devices we all take for granted. ---
**Author:** ![pinkfreud](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pinkfreud/32/17603_2.png) [@pinkfreud](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pinkfreud)\ **Post date:** [May 10, 2006, 9:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/kids-killed-by-falling-tvs-have-people-calling-for-warning-labels/356270/10 "2006-05-10T21:51:31Z")
It seems as if every week there is some new movement to pass laws mandating warnings against doing idiotic things. The “Do not attempt to stop chainsaw blade with hands” sticker is looking less ridiculous by the moment. ---
**Author:** ![Fish](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/bc8723/32.png) [@Fish](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fish)\ **Post date:** [May 10, 2006, 9:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/kids-killed-by-falling-tvs-have-people-calling-for-warning-labels/356270/11 "2006-05-10T21:54:55Z")
And we’ll also need warning labels on people’s hands, because hands can be used to punch peopoe. And warning labels on everyone’s lips, in case they something hurtful. Am I the only one who responded to this by thinking “Why are you letting a television babysit your child anyway? If you had been _watching_ your child try to climb onto the TV, you’d have _seen_ it happening.” ---
**Author:** ![Mighty\_Girl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/7bcc69/32.png) [@Mighty\_Girl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mighty_Girl)\ **Post date:** [May 10, 2006, 10:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/kids-killed-by-falling-tvs-have-people-calling-for-warning-labels/356270/12 "2006-05-10T22:00:36Z")
> [@RickJay](#): > > Well, I’m not sure that would make me feel better if my kid was hurt in this manner. > > I think you’re all sort of missing the point here; the group is not asking that big TVs be banned, but simply that a few minor safety measures be taken. Good safety practice is about preventive measures, not just “Well, don’t be stupid.” All children can act stupidly. What’s so wrong about asking that anchoring devices be shipped along with televisions and such? > > If we simply adopted the “Well, only stupid people get hurt, so we shouldn’t do (preventive safety measure X)” then we would not have seat belts, motorcycle helmets, level rail crossing guards, ground wired appliances, GFCI outlets, hard hats, safety boots, reflective anything, crosswalks, baby-proof bottles, or any number of safety devices we all take for granted. Yeah, but none of us are criticizing anchorind devices, or suggestions of its use. We are just sayign that warnings won’t stop a toddler from doing something potentially dangerous. They can’t read anyways, you know. ---
**Author:** ![Skywatcher](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/skywatcher/32/254_2.png) [@Skywatcher](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Skywatcher)\ **Post date:** [May 10, 2006, 10:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/kids-killed-by-falling-tvs-have-people-calling-for-warning-labels/356270/13 "2006-05-10T22:01:49Z")
> [@RickJay](#): > > I think you’re all sort of missing the point here; the group is not asking that big TVs be banned, but simply that a few minor safety measures be taken. Good safety practice is about preventive measures, not just “Well, don’t be stupid.” All children can act stupidly. What’s so wrong about asking that anchoring devices be shipped along with televisions and such? Good saftey practice is also about using the right object for the right function. A dresser is not meant to support a TV. ---
**Author:** ![AuntiePam](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/f19dbf/32.png) [@AuntiePam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AuntiePam)\ **Post date:** [May 10, 2006, 10:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/kids-killed-by-falling-tvs-have-people-calling-for-warning-labels/356270/14 "2006-05-10T22:09:24Z")
We have a 42-inch set, sitting on a short stand, on thick carpet. The TV just fits the stand, and I think we need to get a bigger one (stand, not TV). I’ve jiggled and bumped it and it doesn’t move, but it still makes me nervous. I think anchors would be great. I’m fine with warning labels. It’s easy to become thoughtless about things we use every day. ---
**Author:** ![eleanorigby](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/ee7513/32.png) [@eleanorigby](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/eleanorigby)\ **Post date:** [May 10, 2006, 10:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/kids-killed-by-falling-tvs-have-people-calling-for-warning-labels/356270/15 "2006-05-10T22:12:27Z")
Ya know, when you have children, you are supposed to supervise them. :rolleyes: I feel horrible for the kids, but come on–TVs are heavy objects! ---
**Author:** ![Least\_Original\_User\_Name\_Ever](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/e480ec/32.png) [@Least\_Original\_User\_Name\_Ever](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Least_Original_User_Name_Ever)\ **Post date:** [May 10, 2006, 10:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/kids-killed-by-falling-tvs-have-people-calling-for-warning-labels/356270/16 "2006-05-10T22:38:16Z")
I’ve done it before. I’ve had a tv fall on me when I was a little sprout. I don’t recall why I was attached to the front of the tv, but it fell on me. I don’t remembre being hurt. All I remember is this “holyfuckingshiti’vegottagetthistvoffofmebeforeiflipout!” thought going through my head. Damned kids these days…bunch of pussies, I tells ya. Back then, we had pointy ridges on our tv sets! They were designed to entertain AND maim! ---
**Author:** ![WolfpackJeep](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wolfpackjeep/32/2921_2.png) [@WolfpackJeep](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WolfpackJeep)\ **Post date:** [May 10, 2006, 10:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/kids-killed-by-falling-tvs-have-people-calling-for-warning-labels/356270/17 "2006-05-10T22:48:53Z")
Oh yeah. The local TV station did a report where they found that entertainment centers, when fully loaded and placed on a 25° incline, _could tip over and kill your child_. They also did a report on paper shredders – seems that if you leave them plugged in with the switch in the “on” position, your child’s fingers could get mangled. :rolleyes: ---
**Author:** ![Fish](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/bc8723/32.png) [@Fish](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fish)\ **Post date:** [May 10, 2006, 11:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/kids-killed-by-falling-tvs-have-people-calling-for-warning-labels/356270/18 "2006-05-10T23:00:01Z")
> [@AuntiePam](#): > > I’ve jiggled and bumped it and it doesn’t move, but it still makes me nervous. I think anchors would be great. I somehow doubt it would solve liability issues. How much leverage can an obese toddler put on the front of a TV if he’s determined to pull it over? How strong would that anchor have to be before parents would say, “This anchor wasn’t strong enough to protect my child from doing something amazingly dimwitted!”? Of course, I’m thinking of the Earthquake Straps they sell with bookcases: sort of a nod to bookcase safety more than anything. It wouldn’t stop someone who was resolved to pull the bookcase down on himself. ---
**Author:** ![scotandrsn](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/a4c791/32.png) [@scotandrsn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/scotandrsn)\ **Post date:** [May 10, 2006, 11:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/kids-killed-by-falling-tvs-have-people-calling-for-warning-labels/356270/19 "2006-05-10T23:12:58Z")
> [@RickJay](#): > > … > > I think you’re all sort of missing the point here; the group is not asking that big TVs be banned, but simply that a few minor safety measures be taken. Good safety practice is about preventive measures, not just “Well, don’t be stupid.” All children can act stupidly. What’s so wrong about asking that anchoring devices be shipped along with televisions and such? > > … It’s not that anchors are a bad idea. It’s the notion that our nation stupidity has reached such levels that someone thinks we need to be told that big TVs are heavy. What the hell is the label going to say? “Ya know this gigantic object that gave you a hernia as you and a firend hoisted it onto this tiny little cart, the one that wobbles violently if walk past it too fast? Guess what? It’s heavy and unstable and could hurt someone!” No shit, really? I would never have guessed that in a million years had this helpful label not informed me. Do we now need to be reminded that our umbrellas need to be held curve-downward to effectively keep us dry? That we shouldn’t try to breathe sand? How far should this have to go before we demand that people use the brains they were born with? This all brings to mind Douglas Adams’ fictional character, Wonko the Sane, who built an asylum to house the entire world after he discovered a box of toothpicks with instructions for toothpick use on it. He had decided that a world that needed such things shouldn’t be allowed out on its own. ---
**Author:** ![Antigen](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/848f3c/32.png) [@Antigen](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Antigen)\ **Post date:** [May 10, 2006, 11:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/kids-killed-by-falling-tvs-have-people-calling-for-warning-labels/356270/20 "2006-05-10T23:20:12Z")
I feel bad that kids have been crushed by TVs and all, but _warning labels_? Why the hell are we ending up spending more and more time and money warning people about the obvious? Caution, knife may be sharp! :rolleyes: I can understand making changes in how things are made or packaged, to make them safer. Getting rid of drawstrings on kids’ clothes, for example. But warning labels? The people idiotic enough not to know that their **hot coffee may be hot** won’t stop to read the warning anyway. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/kids-killed-by-falling-tvs-have-people-calling-for-warning-labels/356270.md?page=2)