Injuries From Furniture Tip-overs Among Children and Adolescents in the United States, 1990-2007

Objective: To describe the epidemiology of pediatric injuries associated with furniture tip-overs in the United States.

Methods: Data from the National Electronic Injury Surveillance System were analyzed for patients < or =17 years treated in emergency departments for a furniture tip-over-related injury from 1990 through 2007.

Results: An estimated 264 200 furniture tip-over-related injuries occurred during the study period, yielding an average of 14 700 injuries annually, or 20.7 per 100 000 population per year. There was a significant increase in the number and rate of these injuries during the 18-year period. Three-quarters of injuries were to children < or =6 years. Televisions were the item most commonly involved (47.4%). Head/neck injuries were the most common (42.2%) injury type among children 0 to 9 years of age.

Conclusions: The number and rate of injuries to children associated with furniture tip-overs are increasing. Pediatricians and caregivers should be aware of this important source of pediatric injury and the strategies for prevention.