Consumer Product Safety Commission

TV Tip-Overs Pose Fatal Risk to Children

Ahead of Super Bowl Sunday, New Data from Federal Agency Demonstrates Continued Risk to Children and Consumers

 |  Blog Post

As Super Bowl Sunday quickly approaches, Consumer Federation of America (CFA) reminds consumers that TVs continue to pose a serious, potentially fatal risk to children.  The Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) released a report on February 8, 2024, regarding tip-over injuries and fatalities associated with TVs, furniture, and appliances. The report illustrates the gravity of furniture and TV instability. 

  • 55 percent of the tip-over fatalities reported to CPSC from 2013 through July 2023 involve children between 1 and 3 years old.  
  • 47 percent of the fatalities from 2013 through July 2023 involve a TV.  
  • According to the CPSC, among the children fatalities in which race/ethnicity is known, Black non-Hispanic children account for 32 percent of the deaths despite comprising only 14 percent of the U.S. population of children.  
  • There has been an increase in tip-over injuries impacting adults 60 years and older, growing from 1,800 emergency department-treated injuries in 2013 to 4,300 emergency department-treated injuries in 2022. 

Pursuant to the bipartisan Stop Tip-overs of Unstable, Risky Dressers on Youth (STURDY) Act, the CPSC adopted a mandatory standard for clothing storage units, such as dressers. The new rules went into effect on September 1, 2023. Unfortunately, the mandatory requirements only impact clothing storage furniture made after September 1, 2023. Non-compliant clothing storage units made before September 2023 can still be sold in stores and online. Further, the rule only addresses clothing storage units, such as dressers, but does not impact other unstable furniture or TVs. 

On January 11, 2024, CPSC announced a recall of plastic furniture tip resistant kits because the zip-tie in the plastic device can become weak and break over time, posing a fatal risk to children and consumers.  

Furniture and TVs continue to pose a serious hidden hazards in homes across the country. Manufactures must do more to prevent future tragedies, and the CPSC must robustly enforce its safety rules. 

This Super Bowl Sunday, ensure your home is safe and follow the tips below: 

  • Check your furniture, TVs, and appliances! Consumers, especially caregivers, are strongly encouraged to anchor their furniture and TVs to the wall. 
  • Properly install and wall mount TVs high enough to prevent young children from grabbing it. If wall mounting a TV is not possible, use anti-tipping devices, check the stability of your TV stand/furniture, and anchor all furniture. 
  • Do not place TVs on dressers or other furniture that children can climb. 
  • Do not place items on top of furniture that children may want to climb to reach, such as toys or TV remote control. 
  • Visit the websites for Parents Against Tip-Overs and CPSC’s Anchor It! campaign for more information about unstable furniture, televisions, and appliances. 
  • For consumers purchasing new clothing storage furniture, remember that non-compliant furniture manufactured before September 1, 2023, will remain available for purchase. Consumers should ask sellers whether a piece of furniture meets the 2023 version of the ASTM F2057 standard (codified at 16 CFR part 1261). 
  • Remind friends and family to anchor their furniture and TVs to prevent tragedy. 
  • Share any incidents of furniture tip-overs or tip-over devices failing with CPSC at gov.