Flat-out dangerous

Special Report: Flat-out dangerous

Posted: 11/08/06

When you pay top dollar for a big screen TV, you can't wait to watch your favorite shows. But safety experts say if you have a big screen you need to watch out.

Imagine a frightening fall. Now imagine if your child was underneath.

Michelle DeMeo-Bonsangue
"I never thought in a million years it ever could happen."

Michelle DeMeo-Bonsangue will never forget the day her eight-year-old son Joseph was killed. A flat-screen TV fell on top of him.

Michelle DeMeo-Bonsangue
"My life is so empty without him. He was a wonderful kid."

Julia Brammer's 22-month-old daughter, Emily, was also killed. A metal TV stand gave way, and the 27-inch TV it was holding crashed on top of her.

Julia Brammer
"My nightmare had started. She was lifeless, and I gave her CPR."

These tragedies are happening more and more. According to the Consumer Product Safety Commission, tumbling TVs killed 36 children between 2000 and 2005.

And experts warn that more children than ever are in danger.

Kim Dulic, Consumer Product Safety Commission
"This year we've already seen 10 deaths."

And the number of injuries is shocking. More than 3,000 children were hurt by falling TVs just last year.

LCD and plasma TVs are so popular, and you may think just because they're thinner, they're safer. But experts say that's not true. Because they are so thin, the slightest touch can send them crashing down.

Carrie Kelley, Heart & Home Baby Safety, Inc.
"The reality is that they are so lightweight and easy to tip over that they can cause a lot of damage."

And whether your TV is flat or not, the screens are getting bigger and bigger, but the stands are not. And that's a dangerous situation.

Carrie Kelley, Heart & Home Baby Safety, Inc.
"People are upgrading their television, but not necessarily upgrading the furniture that's holding the television."

Here's what you can do to protect your child. Experts say the safest place for your plasma or LCD TV is attached securely to a wall. If you are going to use a TV stand, read the instructions. Most stands list what size TVs they'll safely hold. Buy specially made safety straps to hold your TV in place on the stand. And never put anything on top of the TV, especially something your child will try to reach.

Joseph's parents now chain their TV to the wall. It's a heart-breaking lesson they hope other families can avoid.

Michelle DeMeo-Bonsangue
"You could fix a hole in the wall, you can't fix a hole in your heart, you can't"

Right now, there is a bill in congress that would require labels on TVs to warn parents that they can tip over.

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Segment Information

Reported by:

Phil Lipof

Producer:

Jennifer Savio

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