Ritchie Bill to Raise Awareness of Deadly ‘Tip Over’ Hazard Gets Senate Ok

Goal is to Cut Accidents That Claimed Two Lives Here, 40 in US Yearly

The State Senate Thursday approved a bill, sponsored by Senator Patty Ritchie, that would raise awareness of TV and furniture “tip over” hazards that claim 40 Americans each year—mostly children under nine—and have killed two in this region.

The bill, S.4543, directs the state’s Consumer Protection Division to develop a public awareness campaign about the danger, and the need to anchor to floors or walls heavy furniture that could fall or be pulled down by a child.

“Every 24 minutes in this country, a tipped TV, fallen dresser, or some other piece of heavy furniture sends a child to the emergency room,” said Senator Ritchie.

“A small child is no match for a 100-pound dresser, or 50-pound TV, but these accidents are preventable, and parents need to be made aware of steps they can take to keep their children safe.”

According to the US Consumer Product Safety Commission, at least 430 deaths were attributed to tip-over incidents from 2000 to 2013, with 84 percent involving children under the age of nine. 38,000 were sent to emergency rooms each year with injuries like fractures, traumatic brain injuries, and abdominal trauma—all related to tip-overs.

The CPSC says that a typical dresser can fall on a child with the same force as two NFL linebackers colliding.

“As a grandmother, I’ve seen my own children and grandchildren climb on tables and furniture, unaware of the danger. Thankfully, they’ve not been hurt, but too often, innocent play has turned to tragedy in the blink of an eye,” said Senator Ritchie.

“Parents of these tragic children have crisscrossed the nation to spread the word, and this bill, when signed into law, will be a tremendous help.”

In Northern and Central New York, at least two deaths were caused by tip-overs, both occurring in 2012. Two-year-old Amaya Lynne Beaudrealt climbed on the open drawers of a dresser to turn on a DVD player, when it toppled, along with the TV, killing her instantly.

That same year, a 2-year-old Ogdensburg boy was crushed to death when a dresser fell on him. His entire family, including six siblings, all were home at the time.

The bill is sponsored in the Assembly by Assemblyman Jeff Dinowitz.