Furniture Anchoring: Why Your Excuses Don’t Work

I can rattle off the statistics that furniture, TV, and appliance tip-overs are one of the top hazards in the home; that more than 19,000 children a year are treated in the ER from tip-over-related injuries; or that three-quarters of related injuries and deaths involve children 6 and under; but will that convince you to anchor your furniture?

In hopes of keeping it real, I’m parting ways from my gentle blogging style where I give you 5 New Year's Safety Resolutions, or Hidden Hazards in your Home. Instead, I’ll hit you with the truth and tell you, frankly, why your lame excuses, or arguments to the contrary, are B.S.

Meet mom, Laurie, and daughter, Brooke, whose terrifying ordeal began when Laurie found Brooke, then 3 years old, crushed under her brother’s dresser with blood dripping from her ear.

With the mission of sparing other families the pain and heartache they have endured, Brooke, with mom's help, has created unique jewelry inspired by her incredible journey. All proceeds go towards assisting the family recoup financial loss, and towards their continued efforts to save lives by reminding us to anchor our furniture to the wall.

I will not go into further detail as I urge you to hug your babies, gather your Kleenex (you’ll need them,) and read Laurie’s account in her own words. Instead I’m speaking to those of you with young children who have not yet taken the steps to anchor your furniture, and I ask you: “What’s your excuse?” Let me challenge the most common.

Excuse 1: “My child could never tip that furniture. It took 5 men to get it up the stairs!”

Reality: Imagine that after repeatedly asking your child to quit throwing his toy truck at his sister, you banish the truck to “time-out” on top of the un-tippable, “took-5-men-to-move,” bookcase. Unfortunately, your determined child scales this furniture like a seasoned mountain climber, carefully placing his toes on the edge of each shelf, grasping the furniture sides with his tiny fingers. The higher he climbs, the more unbalanced the furniture becomes, until finally his strength and body weight, topple both furniture and your child to the floor. It’s not just common sense, it’s physics. Try it yourself and see how far you get.

Excuse 2: “We don’t need straps. The salesman told us this dresser is tip-proof.”

Reality: What if I told you he is right?! That dresser is completely tip-proof, as long as no one pulls it, climbs it, or opens a drawer. Furniture is not designed to be a swing set and at best is merely “Tip-Resistant.” Why do think the manufacturer includes the anchors needed to strap it to the wall? (Even if the anchors they provide are crap.) Dresser drawers are the ladder rungs to whatever treasures lie on top. When the drawers of a dresser are open the weight shifts and the dresser falls. Want to make matters worse? Put an unanchored TV on top. If the dresser does not come down, there’s a good chance the TV will. It’s not just common sense, it’s physics.

Excuse 3: “Furniture straps? I always watch my child.”

Reality: Let’s be honest… if you have ever turned your back to answer the phone, walked to the closet to hang a coat, or God forbid attempted to use the bathroom with some privacy, then you are guilty of not watching your child. If you are still certain that you will never, under any circumstance, turn your back to your child, even for a second, then you are better than I. For the rest of us, heed the warning and anchor your furniture to the wall. It’s common sense.

Finally, excuse number 4 (and my personal favorite): “I don’t want to put holes in my wall, I just painted.”

Reality: If this is your excuse, I wonder if you have any common sense at all.

Let Brooke’s story be your wake-up call and rid yourself of lame excuses. Furniture straps are inexpensive, easy to find, and are not difficult to install. I encourage you to read Laurie and Brooke’s inspiring story and anchor your furniture to the wall TODAY! Don't let your child be another statistic.

Related Posts:

Laurie’s account of their ordeal: http://blog.safestartbaby.com/2012/01/brookes-angel-wings-her-story.html

Support the cause. Shop http://www.brookesangelwings.com/. All proceeds go towards financial recovery for the family and tip-over awareness.

Preventing Tip-Over Deaths & Injuries

A Dresser or a Step Ladder? The Danger of Furniture Tip-Overs

What to Buy:

Deluxe Furniture Straps, 2-pack

Pro-Strap Furniture Straps, 2-pack

Anti-Tip TV Straps

Pro-Grade Flat Screen Locking Bar