Assembly Resolution No. 645

BY: M. of A. Zebrowski

MEMORIALIZING Governor Kathy Hochul to proclaim
October 29, 2023, as Furniture and TV Tip-Over
Prevention Awareness Day in the State of New York

WHEREAS, It is the sense of this Legislative Body to memorialize
Governor Kathy Hochul to proclaim October 29, 2023, as Furniture and TV
Tip-Over Prevention Awareness Day in the State of New York; and

WHEREAS, The purpose of Furniture and TV Tip-Over Prevention
Awareness Day is to bring awareness and help educate New Yorkers about
the potential dangers of unsecured furniture, TVs and appliances in
homes where children live, visit often, or are cared for, and to
encourage parents and caregivers to take proper precautions to prevent
tip-over accidents; and

WHEREAS, October 29 is being designated as Furniture and TV Tip-Over
Prevention Awareness Day in loving memory of the birthday of Harper
Fried, a 3-year-old Hudson Valley girl who tragically died as a result
of a tip-over accident; and

WHEREAS, HarperSmiles Inc. was created following this tragic
accident; the mission of this noble organization is to educate, inspire
and motivate parents to secure furniture and prevent tip-over accidents;
and

WHEREAS, According to the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission
("CPSC"), an estimated 25,500 people were treated annually in U.S.
hospital emergency departments for product instability or tip-over
injuries related to televisions, furniture, and appliances from 2017
through 2019; and

WHEREAS, Since 2000, there were 581 deaths related to product
instability or television, furniture, and appliance tip-overs, according
to the CPSC; and

WHEREAS, According to a CPSC study, when a television falls from an
average size dresser, it can fall with the force of thousands of pounds,
or a force 10 times more powerful than an NFL lineman; and

WHEREAS, Families can eliminate furniture, TV and appliance tip-over
accidents by using sturdy furniture designed to hold TVs; mounting TVs
on walls; securing furniture, particularly top-heavy furniture, TVs and
appliances to walls using simple safety devices such as braces and
straps; and by removing tempting objects for children from the top of
TVs and furniture; and

WHEREAS, This Legislative Body encourages all New Yorkers,
particularly parents and caregivers with young children, to take these
simple, low cost steps to prevent tip-over-related injuries and deaths;
now, therefore, be it

RESOLVED, That this Legislative Body pause in its deliberations to
memorialize Governor Kathy Hochul to proclaim October 29, 2023, as

Furniture and TV Tip-Over Prevention Awareness Day in the State of New
York, and to express its most sincere condolences to the families who
have lost children as a result of tip-over accidents; and be it further

RESOLVED, That a copy of this Resolution, suitably engrossed, be
transmitted to The Honorable Kathy Hochul, Governor of the State of New
York.