So you bought a flat-panel TV...
Congratulations! Nothing enhances your entertainment experience like a huge flat-panel TV. And while the size was definitely a selling point, it's also a dangerous one. The average 32" flat-panel TV weighs as much as three bowling balls! A heavy fact you learn when you drop it on your toe. Speaking of which, that looks pretty bad. Would you like to see a doctor?
50 Lbs.
Average weight of a
flat-panel TV.
Imagine three
bowling balls
falling on you!
Safety Tip
Although the safest option is to mount your TV, a safety strap can help prevent accidental tipping by securing one end to your TV and the other to the wall.
The numbers are real
Hospitals are no strangers to TV-related injuries. Between 2008 and 2010, ten times more people went to the ER for tipping TV-related injuries than all the people that died on the Titanic. How about chatting with some of the other patients in the waiting room to pass the time before you can see the doctor?
106,800
Injuries related to TV instability
from 2006-2011
39%
Contusions, bumps
and bruises
14%
Cuts, scrapes
and gashes
13%
Broken bones and
fractures
Safety Tip
The amount of injuries related to TV tip-overs sure is overwhelming. Cuts, bruises, broken bones, organ damage? Are you kidding me? All because of a large screen TV toppling over. I mean come on, you wouldn't wear oversized pants without a belt, so why set up your big screen TV
without securing it?
Kids count the most
As you look around the waiting room, you notice quite a few injured youngsters. This is due to the fact that children under the age of 5 make up nearly half of the total reported TV-related injuries. Looks like the doctor is ready to see you now, can you manage walking in on your own?
47%
of TV tip-over related
injuries happen
to children
under age 5
22%
Adult related
injuries
5%
Seniors 60 years +
related injuries
Safety Tip
Wow, tipping TVs seem to affect all kinds of people. The elderly, children, adults... it doesn't matter who you are, if your TV is not secured, your chance of injury skyrockets. Starting to see the facts? But, not sure how to protect your family and your TV? Don't worry, we cover that in the Take Action section.
The serious statistic
The doctor arrives and after a quick exam, he believes that your big toe isn't broken. Talk about luck. From 2000-2011, 215 deaths were reported involving falling televisions. So all in all, your damaged toe doesn't seem that big of a deal. But it's been a long day, how about heading home and getting off your feet?
A Child Dies
Every 3 weeks
because of
unsecured TVs
215
Reported deaths
from TV tip-overs
96%
of reported deaths
were children under
10 years old
57%
of deaths involved
victims being
crushed
Safety Tip
215 deaths reported from TV tip-overs? That's scary. Not to mention the fact that it seems like that rate is not slowing down anytime soon. So why become a statistic if you don't have to? Mounting your TV greatly reduces your chance of injury. To this day, there has never been a known fatality involving a mounted
flat-panel TV
Spread the word and make a pledge
Now that you're home and getting some rest, you stop and think about your painful education in TV safety. So knowing what you know now, would you repeat the same mistake? Would you get the word out to family, friends and neighbors? Would you pay it forward by donating to a charity? Use the links below to be as active as you see fit.
View the solutions that are available to keep your home a safer place
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