TVs can kill, study says

A study by the University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center in Dallas says that falling TVs pose a significant risk to kids, with many having been injured and some even killed as a result of unstable television sets. According to the study, some 2,600 children under the age of five were treated for injuries in emergency rooms in 2005 alone, and from a sample of 26 cases at Children's Medical Center Dallas they found that 14 of the children received head injuries and nine required hospitalization. Now, 26 cases from a single hospital is a pretty small sample size for a poll of any sort, but they nonetheless interviewed the parents and found that eight-five percent of them didn't realize TVs could cause such injuries (we're guessing none of them have tried moving a CRT bigger than 27 inches -- they defy the laws of gravity we tell you). So, apart from buying an LCD or Plasma TV that can be hung out of reach on a wall, they're suggesting that parents secure TVs with straps to prevent them from falling over, and are also calling for warning labels to be placed on TVs to warn of the potential dangers. In fact, here's one now: do not kick, jostle, shove, bump, or otherwise disturb large, heavy, stationary equipment. This Engadget PSA brought to you by common sense.

[Via Techdirt]

[Evan Spiegel @ Jun 21st 2006 9:37PM]

Is this like the tobacco companies saying that most people die in their sleep so we should ban sleep.

That sounds like some logic!

[manny @ Jun 21st 2006 10:00PM]

In fact, here's one now: do not kick, jostle, shove, bump, or otherwise disturb large, heavy, stationary equipment. This Engadget PSA brought to you by common sense.

Well it might seem silly to have such a warning, but just 2 months ago, a 5yr old girl in our community was kiled by a TV that tipped and crushed her head. So as silly as is sounds, sometimes it helps to give ppl a wake-up call.

[MVC @ Jun 21st 2006 10:02PM]

Ah, now, don't be harsh. Kids are unfortunately short on commonsense ;-(

[Dolomite @ Jun 21st 2006 10:09PM]

So basically this study just confirmed that the laws of physics and gravity apply to large household objects as well? Who would have guessed!?!?!?!?!?!?

[Mike @ Jun 21st 2006 10:12PM]

This just in!

Falling buildings kill lots of people, more at 11!

[Sean @ Jun 21st 2006 10:36PM]

The 26 cases in the one town they all probly bought the same chinese tv stand at the local discount store these things are made with low grade fiber board when fiberboard is low grade to begin with, and are stuck together with those chinsey little metal pins that tear thru the fiberboard at any significant amount of force applied. They are very dangerous and would suggust not to buy furniture of any sort built of fiberboard.

[Taylor @ Jun 21st 2006 10:40PM]

The test was conducted by dropping TVs on children, and observing the results.
-Taylor

[JK @ Jun 21st 2006 10:50PM]

Thanks, midget. Shocking report!

[Craig @ Jun 21st 2006 11:04PM]

Stupid babies need the MOST attention!

[Revrant @ Jun 21st 2006 11:26PM]

This is a good example of how people are Not adopting new TVs as everyone makes it sound, the majority of people still have their 90's sets, and still buy 90's sets from ABC warehouse, which are large, and heavy, and None of them put any effort into keeping the TV stable.

We have ours in an entertainment center, it's nigh Impossible to even get the thing out, let alone jostle it and have it Crush a kid, at least screw them down, people!

[Jimmay @ Jun 21st 2006 11:29PM]

Holy crap. An hour after reading this article, it said this on the news.

"Boy killed by 40" television falling ontop of him. His sister was watching tv with him, then got up to use the bathroom, and when she came back the tv was on top of the boy."

Those aren't the exact words, but yeah.

It's not on the website yet though, try checking wstm.com sometime to see if it's on there.

[m13a8 @ Jun 21st 2006 11:29PM]

Exactly how hard did they have to study to figure this out?

[zephead @ Jun 22nd 2006 12:20AM]

Common sense saves lives. Lack of common sense is therefore bad.

[arthur @ Jun 22nd 2006 1:31AM]

sean, those stands are not made for a fat american CRT TV. Common sense is dont buy a cheap stand to save a penny.

[Evan Evans @ Jun 22nd 2006 1:34AM]

You guys are all being total **ses about this. This is no laughing matter .. really. It only takes one mistake for a parent to lose their child and all the years they had together forever. It would certainly be much better if warning labels or documentation to the effect in the manuals was there so that a few more parents could take preventative measures. If, in my opinion, ONE child is saved, than it is worth it. You are all underestimating the value of a human life, especially one that is dependent on those who love him/her dearly.

It really shouldn't take putting you in the same place as a small child would be in with their vulnerabilities and capabilities to get you to sympathize and take a step back and see that cracking jokes about the meat of the article is completely insensitive. It really shouldn't. It's a sad day, when one must go that far to realize that something needs to be taken seriously. Children deserve more help, their parents deserve more help, and both deserve our respects while their alive as well as after.

Evan Evans

[Eric Whitney @ Jun 22nd 2006 2:21AM]

Well I did take the time to secure the book cases in my house to the walls, it makes sense that large TVs could be just a dangerous. I think many people would be surprised to see how "off center" the center of gravity is on large TVs.
I have a 1 1/2 year old and she climbs everything. Oh boy is this a good reason to get a plasma screen. Honey, Im just worried about the safety of our children, really.

Maybe the futerue will bring large, stabe, TVs built into furnitre like wooden boxes with legs on them,.... oh, I guess that was the past.

[Vexorg @ Jun 22nd 2006 2:30AM]

Size and weight issues (as well as getting something in 720P for my 360) were the main reasons I went with an LCD when I bought a new TV a few months ago. Shortly after doing so, I was helping someone move, and ended up participating in moving a 36" CRT out of the house and down a narrow flight of stairs with a 90-degree bend in the middle. Even with 4 people, that wasn't much fun. I also got my finger smashed pretty good by an ancient 21" CRT monitor being disposed of a few years back. That was even less fun.

[Cry Havoc @ Jun 22nd 2006 2:33AM]

Evan Evans: Excellent points, and I completely concur.

We as logical adults see a TV on a stand, and that's it. It's purpose is obvious to us: We press the button, it comes on, we flick through channels, and watch it. That's the extent of the functionality and all it's really designed for. So we never question it or it's use. Also, due to the fact that a TV is rarely touched anymore, we never give a second thought to the strength and stability of the TV stand it's perched upon, sometimes precariously.

To a child though, it's NOT just something to watch. It's an object to play with and experiement on/with, be it by poking at Oscar the Grouch on the screen, having fun moving around the S-video, HDMI, etc. cords in the back (okay, I do that too), or just pushing around on it. I'm sure all children at some point wonder how all those people fit into a tiny box. We underestimate the curiousity of our children, who can sit still for hours watching the images on the screen. We think they understand that it's just a TV. This is a good reminder that a child is a very curious person, and we need to be aware of that... and to buy a good TV stand.

[Namrok @ Jun 22nd 2006 6:34AM]

Funny thing, check the first page of the Xbox 360 manual, and it DOES have a warning that if it falls it could injure or even kill small children.

Ok, it might be the second page, but its near the front with all those other warnings.

[Magus @ Jun 22nd 2006 8:58AM]

It seems the article completly overlooks the whole large heavy objects unsecured.
Quick thers research to do I need cash, lots of heavy objects and kids!

I theorize large speakers maybe immune to the laws of common sense and gravity!

[MixedCookie @ Jun 22nd 2006 9:21AM]

Can we just put warning labels on babies instead?

[Galley @ Jun 22nd 2006 9:22AM]

RCA and Sony TV stands have had rear brackets on them for more than 10 years. They hook into the back of the TV set to prevent it from tipping over.

[Dan L @ Jun 22nd 2006 10:00AM]

See, and this can't even be a new thing. This must have been so much worse when there was no alternative. But yeah, we don't hear about bad stuff when there's nothing we can do about it. Now we can get all kinds of teeny tiny TVs we can buy that won't try and take out our children.

I had a 27" CRT fall on me when I was a little kid, little overzealous with the Barney love.

Point being....if the kid dies, then it's not funny. But it was pretty friggin' hilarious when it happened to me.

[Mike @ Jun 22nd 2006 10:17AM]

And the Darwin Award goes to:

Every child who pulls a TV onto their face.

[Mark Felps @ Jun 22nd 2006 10:29AM]

I know one of the mothers whose daughter is a statistic in this report. She is a great lady and a great mother, who happened to have a 27" television. Her daughter was trying to reach the power button (on the top of the set), stumbled, and pulled the TV down on herself. It cracked her skull open. Her mother was just around the corner, in the kitchen when it happened. It took all of thirty seconds to change their lives forever.

We're not talking minor hospitalization here, but a nearly fatal injury. While the daughter survived, she spent multiple years in and out of hosiptals for minor brain and nerve damage. She had at least four surgeries to correct the damage to her eyes caused by the deformation of her skull when the 27" TV crushed it. She still has emotional issues caused by the brain damage.

The mother spent multiple years in emotional agony, beating herself up for letting it happen to her daughter.

If you have a kid, do yourself a favor and secure your TV set. Even if it's an LCD or a DLP. Even a 60 pound weight falling from three to four feet is heavy enough to seriously injure a child.

[apt @ Jun 22nd 2006 11:14AM]

It might be common sense, but just two days ago here there was a small child who was left for less than five minutes, and during these five minutes managed to pull a 40" TV off a dresser and onto his head, pinning his head between a 40" CRT and a concrete floor. He was taken to the hopsital and pronounced dead.

I really don't think fully grown people go around knocking large heavy objects... its more for kids who don't know any better. You would only realize that if you have had to take care of kids.

So much for common sense, eh? You should have suggested the cheap tie-downs and furniture straps to tie it to the wall.

[mathew @ Jun 22nd 2006 11:41AM]

Q: What's green, has six legs, and can kill you if it jumps out of a tree on top of you?

A: A pool table.

Thanks, I'll be here all week.

[consumer_q @ Jun 22nd 2006 11:42AM]

I too do not quite understand the 'duh! common sense people!' posts. In what way is it bad to get out information to people - parents, *new* parents, grandparents, uncles, and aunts - that:

"TV, dressers and bookcases — anything heavy a young child can pull down or climb up — should really be secured to prevent the accident," Crocker said.

Furthermore, I guarantee that most of you "common sense" people do not have your stuff securely tied down. And I wonder how many of you "common sense" people have nieces/nephews that come over to visit, or even dogsor cats, and still have your stuff insecure. Furthermore, how many of you in the Midwestern, Western and Eastern states know that you may live near active fault lines and could get yourself injured by falling appliances during a minor shake?


"Common sense" is not always so common.

[Magus @ Jun 22nd 2006 12:14PM]

Did anyone read the article o.O?
The study was conducted directed at Televisions...
as in no other large unsecured objects can't hurt children by falling on them. Also adding to the warning lable on the back of televisions is not going to help the childern that can't / would not read it.
The article make it out as if the falling televisions are deliberatly jumping out and pouncing on little kids which hilarious.

[Jacob @ Jun 22nd 2006 12:20PM]

"It would certainly be much better if warning labels or documentation to the effect in the manuals was there so that a few more parents could take preventative measures."

This is why all cars sold in the US now have those really annoying unremovable warning labels on the front passenger sunvisor telling parents not to put carseats there. It doesn't matter if you have kids or not, you get that stupid label.

Next we'll have annoying unremovable warning labels on the front of TVs, because some people can't think to steady it and need a constant reminder.


(On a similar note, my 25" Sony Trinitron (1986) died last week, magically just in time for junk pickup. It weighed over 120 lbs, and was a bitch to get down four flights of stairs.)

((TV-less, for the time being. Dammit.))

[Liam @ Jun 22nd 2006 12:39PM]

at my school we had this old tv with a sticker warning about falling tvs with a funny picture of a falling tv and a person under it. I laughed at it cause it seemed stupid but aparently it can happen.

[Gavin @ Jun 22nd 2006 7:18PM]

What is the point of all of the warning labels?

Does anyone even read the stupid labels? And even if you did wouldn't you just ignore the patronising 'advice' they give you and do what you want anyway?

People just need to think for themselves before they do things. Darwin came up with this idea of natural selection i.e. the people who are weak or too dumb to survive don't and don't pass on their genes.

[consumer_q @ Jun 22nd 2006 8:10PM]

"What is the point of all of the warning labels?"

To warn the user and those around the product.

"Does anyone even read the stupid labels?"

Yes, especially if it is a new type of product I have not experienced.

"And even if you did wouldn't you just ignore the patronising 'advice' they give you and do what you want anyway?"

I do not ignore it because I tend to want myself or other people around me to be safe.

"People just need to think for themselves before they do things."

That is why it is probably wise to read the warning labels. To make a logical decision based on the information provided to you is the best way to think!

"Darwin came up with this idea of natural selection i.e. the people who are weak or too dumb to survive don't and don't pass on their genes."

'Tis a good thing then that you do not read, nor take the advise, of the warning labels, I suppose.

[LostSailor @ Jun 22nd 2006 9:10PM]

I personally know a family where a young girl was brain damaged by a large TV falling on her.

Was the TV stand to small for the job? - Probably.
Could she have been better supervised? - Perhaps.
Is her life forever changed? - Yes.

Did I secure my Rack, TV, tall dressers, bookcases within days of hearing the news? - Of course.

[Da-Da-Da-Darwin @ Jun 23rd 2006 1:35PM]

If your kid is strong enough to pull a TV over, they're old enough to know better, and if they don't then it's really just a matter of time until something else crushes them. The real moral of the story here is that TV sucks and everyone should be outside so I don't have to hear them complaining about how fat and out of shape they are.

[187 on John Doe @ Jun 23rd 2006 8:12PM]

The problem is not the child, the child knows nothing of the dangers. Tell a child not to touch a hot plate. Oops, it burnt itself.

It's the parents that aren't wise enough to realise that a stupidly situated TV will fall down sooner or later.

[Larry Friedman @ Jun 25th 2006 11:17PM]

So, much like ruining your eyesight. Television is bad for you if you sit too close.

[Johnny @ Oct 21st 2006 12:19AM]

No more labels or warnings, don't you people think we have enough of them already ?
When I was a kid I used to sleep next to the back window of the car and cut electrical wires with scissors... and hey I'm still alive. So no more warnings and if a few kids have to die because of so be it, one less mcdonalds worker or policeman is not the end of the world.