Heavy TVs Can Be Dangerous to Kids
Sept. 12, 2006 — -- Courtlynn Schneider already had an independent streak at age 3.
On Christmas Eve of last year, she climbed up a dresser to reach the television on top. The TV fell and crushed Courtlynn's head and chest.
"They resuscitated her three times and said there was nothing more they could do," said Courtlynn's mom, Andrea Schneider. "So they let us hold her, and she died in our arms at 7:40 on Christmas Day."
Last year, 3,000 children went to the emergency room after heavy TV sets fell on them.
The Consumer Product Safety Commission says typically five children die this way every year.
So far, there have already been 10 deaths in 2006.
Toddlers often pull themselves up on furniture or climb on it to reach things they want. The problem is, traditional TVs are very front heavy, and many TV stands are flimsy.
"As the price of television sets has come down, consumers have been able to buy bigger TVs for less money, but haven't necessarily invested in the proper furniture or TV stand," said Julie Vallese of the Consumer Product Safety Commission.
Choosing a sturdy stand is key.
Today, the safety commission is announcing the recall of about 4,000 Pier One television stands.
The Ming TV stand can tip over if you open the drawer and put weight on it. A TV fell off one of them and killed a Canadian child. Pier One says the voluntary recall is just a precaution.
Courtlynn's mom wishes furniture and television manufacturers would help parents by including warning labels and also safety brackets to secure their products to a wall.
Now Congress is considering such a law.
"It hurt. It hurt and it upset me the fact that there was no awareness put there on this issue. Because if it was, this could have been prevented," Schneider said.
One study showed 85 parents of parents didn't realize the risk.
You may be wondering how a thin plasma screen TV would compare.
Experts aren't sure, but they speculate plasma screen TVs are less dangerous because they're lighter and because they're often mounted on a wall out of reach.
Related Stories
ABC News Live