Furniture Safety Quiz
Do you have furniture in YOUR home that may be putting your child at risk of injury or death?
Take this quiz to find out
2. Do you have any furniture with drawers, shelves, or doors in any room of your home Yes No
that is not secured to the walls?
3. Do you have any TV sets, including large or big screen TV’s, that are not secured Yes No
to the walls?
4. Do your children get or put away their own clothes, walk, run, play, climb, rough Yes No
house, play video games, watch TV, sing, dance, play hide and seek, jump, throw things,
change DVD’s, or use remote controls in the house?
5. Do you have items a child might want out of their reach but that they can see or that Yes No
they know where it is kept anywhere in your home such as toys, books, music, video
games or DVD’s, remote controls, etc?
6. Do you think that if you told your child under 10 not to do something because Yes No
of the dangers of getting hurt of dying it, would really prevent them from doing
it while engaged in play?
7. Do you believe that because your child is never alone in the house, you would Yes No
be able to save them from injury or death should something fall on them because
you would hear it fall or hear their cry and be able to respond quickly?
8. Speaking honestly, do you believe that the actual risk of YOUR child being Yes No
injured or killed by falling furniture, TV’s, or appliances is so small that it won’t
happen to you?
9. Do you recognize the dangers of furniture tip overs and intend to secure Yes No
your furniture, but just have not had the time to properly secure all your at risk
furniture and TV’s yet?
10. Speaking honestly, are you/your spouse hesitant to secure furniture/TV’s Yes No
because you don’t want to “ruin” your furniture or walls with holes/screws?
Scoring:
Give yourself one point for every yes answer. If you answered no to the question 1, please share this quiz and our Web site with your friends and family with children under 10.
If you answered yes to any question 2-10, your furniture is at risk of falling on and injuring or killing your child or someone else’s. The more yes answers you had, the greater your risk. Many of these statements were made by parents whose children died from falling furniture.
These questions were compiled to educate the reader about common myths about furniture safety. Furniture tip overs can happen to anyone, anywhere, anytime, and in the blink of an eye. You can be right in the same room as your child, and be powerless to save them from a falling piece of furniture. Your child’s best protection is the action YOU take RIGHT NOW to properly secure all the furniture and TV’s in your home.
How to Make Your Home Furniture Safe
Secure ALL furniture with shelves, drawers, and doors to the walls (into a stud if possible) with an appropriate device. Secure all TV's and all appliances, too. It doesn't matter how tall or short, heavy, stable, or well made it is. Be sure that what you use can hold the weight of a fully loaded piece of furniture plus a 50 lb weight pulling on or hanging from the middle of the top. For more information, visit the resources page. You can use any of the following:
More Tip-Over Prevention Tips
Even if your furniture and TV’s are secured, check the safety straps frequently to be sure they are still secure. They can come loose or plastic parts can break over time, especially if exposed to sunlight or increased pressure.
.
Take this quiz to find out
- Do you have children under the age of 10 living in or frequently visiting your home? Yes No
2. Do you have any furniture with drawers, shelves, or doors in any room of your home Yes No
that is not secured to the walls?
3. Do you have any TV sets, including large or big screen TV’s, that are not secured Yes No
to the walls?
4. Do your children get or put away their own clothes, walk, run, play, climb, rough Yes No
house, play video games, watch TV, sing, dance, play hide and seek, jump, throw things,
change DVD’s, or use remote controls in the house?
5. Do you have items a child might want out of their reach but that they can see or that Yes No
they know where it is kept anywhere in your home such as toys, books, music, video
games or DVD’s, remote controls, etc?
6. Do you think that if you told your child under 10 not to do something because Yes No
of the dangers of getting hurt of dying it, would really prevent them from doing
it while engaged in play?
7. Do you believe that because your child is never alone in the house, you would Yes No
be able to save them from injury or death should something fall on them because
you would hear it fall or hear their cry and be able to respond quickly?
8. Speaking honestly, do you believe that the actual risk of YOUR child being Yes No
injured or killed by falling furniture, TV’s, or appliances is so small that it won’t
happen to you?
9. Do you recognize the dangers of furniture tip overs and intend to secure Yes No
your furniture, but just have not had the time to properly secure all your at risk
furniture and TV’s yet?
10. Speaking honestly, are you/your spouse hesitant to secure furniture/TV’s Yes No
because you don’t want to “ruin” your furniture or walls with holes/screws?
Scoring:
Give yourself one point for every yes answer. If you answered no to the question 1, please share this quiz and our Web site with your friends and family with children under 10.
If you answered yes to any question 2-10, your furniture is at risk of falling on and injuring or killing your child or someone else’s. The more yes answers you had, the greater your risk. Many of these statements were made by parents whose children died from falling furniture.
These questions were compiled to educate the reader about common myths about furniture safety. Furniture tip overs can happen to anyone, anywhere, anytime, and in the blink of an eye. You can be right in the same room as your child, and be powerless to save them from a falling piece of furniture. Your child’s best protection is the action YOU take RIGHT NOW to properly secure all the furniture and TV’s in your home.
How to Make Your Home Furniture Safe
Secure ALL furniture with shelves, drawers, and doors to the walls (into a stud if possible) with an appropriate device. Secure all TV's and all appliances, too. It doesn't matter how tall or short, heavy, stable, or well made it is. Be sure that what you use can hold the weight of a fully loaded piece of furniture plus a 50 lb weight pulling on or hanging from the middle of the top. For more information, visit the resources page. You can use any of the following:
- Safety First Furniture Wall Straps
- Kidco’s Anti-tip furniture straps and Flat screen TV straps
- Quake Hold TV straps, computer strap, big screen TV strap, and appliance strap
- Hangman Anti-tip kit
- “L” brackets
- Wall mounts for flat screen and tube TV’s
- Safety Innovations Furniture and TV straps
More Tip-Over Prevention Tips
- Secure ALL TV’s to the wall and/or to the table/entertainment center on which it sits. Also secure computer monitors. (see above list)
- Place TV sets and computer monitors on low, stable units as far back as possible, then secure them to the wall and/or to the surface on which it sits.
- Do not place anything on top of the TV, dresser, or entertainment center that a child may want
- Place heavy items on the lowest shelf and in the lowest drawer, putting progressively lighter items in drawers from the bottom up.
- Place any items that may be of interest to a child within easy reach so they are not enticed to climb for it or reach for it.
- Do not place items you do not want your child to have within their sight but out of their reach (or even out of sight but out of their reach if they know where you put it) as they are likely to try to climb or reach for it. Remote controls and toys/games/videos/DVD’s are items kids frequently reach for on top of TV’s.
- Don’t assume simply telling your child not to climb/reach is enough, it is not.
- Don’t assume your child will remember the dangers even if you have told them to be careful. Play is the work of children.
- Don’t assume it can’t happen to you, it can, and in a heartbeat.
- Don’t assume your child is too old or too young. Every child under 10 needs to be protected.
- Do it right, do it now. The next child saved could be yours.
Even if your furniture and TV’s are secured, check the safety straps frequently to be sure they are still secure. They can come loose or plastic parts can break over time, especially if exposed to sunlight or increased pressure.
.