Study: Child Dies Every Three Weeks From Falling Television
CHICAGO (CBS) -- A string of tragedies in the Chicago area over the past year prompted a safety advocacy group to look at the number of children killed or injured by falling televisions.
Since October of last year, four Chicago-area children died after televisions fell and crushed them.
Kate Carr with Safe Kids Worldwide says her organization decided to look at the numbers for the past decade.
"Injuries to kids were on the increase, and we had seen a 31 percent increase over the last 10 years in TV tip-over injuries," Carr said. "Even more shocking, on average, every three weeks a child was dying from a television tipping over."
If you're buying a new TV for the holidays, even one of the lighter flat-screen models, Carr says it's critical you mount it properly on the wall or secure it with safety straps.
LISTEN: WBBM Newsradio's Regine Schlesinger Reports