As you’re getting your TVs set up for the big game, make sure they are safe in celebration of National TV Safety Day.
The Super Bowl is one of the most watched events on TV every year, and it’s the perfect time to remind everyone about TV safety.
TV safety, which often isn’t a top priority for families, is an important part of home safety and childproofing. If not properly secured, heavier CRT televisions can tip over and harm small children. In fact, every three weeks in the U.S. a child dies from a TV tipping over.
We encourage parents and caregivers to recycle heavier, box-style, cathode ray tube televisions, which can be hazards for children if not placed on a low, stable piece of furniture. A 36 inch heavier CRT TV falling three feet creates the same momentum as a 1-year old child falling ten stories.
TV tip-over incidents are preventable with a few simple steps:
- Properly place your old TV. If you have a heavier, box-style TV, place it on a low, stable piece of furniture that is appropriate for the TV’s size and weight.
- Secure your flat-panel TV. Be sure your flat-panel TV is properly secured with a mount that has a safety certification by an independent laboratory (such as UL, CSA, ETL).
- Recycle your old TV. To find a location near you that safely and easily recycles unwanted TVs, go to www.GreenerGadgets.org.
Get more TV safety tips at SafeKids.org.
