WASHINGTON -- The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission has issued a plea to parents and caregivers to safeguard children from potential tipover accidents involving furniture, TVs and appliances.

CPSC said that between 2000 and 2008, it received reports of nearly 200 tipover related deaths involving children eight years old and younger; 93% of these fatalities involved children five years old and younger.

In addition, more than 16,000 children five years old and younger were treated in emergency rooms because of injuries associated with TVs, furniture, and appliance tipovers according to CPSC staff’s most recent estimates from 2006.

“Large TVs and unstable furniture can be a deadly combination," said CPSC Chairman Inez Tenebaum. "Taking simple, low-cost steps to secure furniture and TVs can save lives."

CPSC said typically, injuries and deaths occur when children climb onto, fall against or pull themselves up on television stands, shelves, bookcases, dressers, desks, chests and appliances.

To help prevent tip-over hazards, the CPSC offers the following safety tips:

• Furniture should be stable on its own. For added security, anchor chests, dressers, TV stands, bookcases and entertainment units to the floor or attach them to a wall.
• Place TVs on a sturdy, low-rise base. Avoid flimsy shelves.
• Push the TV as far back on its stand as possible.
• Place electrical cords out of a child’s reach and teach kids not to play with them.
• Keep remote controls and other attractive items off the TV stand so kids won’t be tempted to grab for them and risk knocking the TV over.
• Make sure free-standing ranges and stoves are installed with anti-tip brackets.

Read the Consumer Product Safety Commission's press release.