Temple Toddler Fatally Injured by Falling Television

A 3-year-old was killed Monday night after a television fell on him as he attempted to climb a piece of furniture.

Details of the Tragic Accident

According to reports, police responded to the accident in the 1500 block of South 5^th Street around 11 p.m. Monday. Police Sgt. Mike Bolton said evidence at the scene suggest the child was trying to reach the television when the accident occurred.

The toddler was rushed to a Temple hospital where he succumbed to his injuries.

The identity of the child has not been released.

One Child Injured by a Falling Television Every 30 Minutes

“A child’s dying once every three weeks from a TV tip-over. The numbers are going up, This is a call to action. These are 100 percent preventable.” – Dr. Gary Smith, pediatrician at Nationwide Children’s Hospital in Columbus, Ohio as published by Today.

• According to a study published in the journal Pediatrics, the number of children injured by falling televisions increased by 125 percent from 1990 to 2011.
• On average, more than 17,000 children visit the emergency room every year with injuries caused by falling televisions – that is roughly one child every 30 minutes.
• Between 2000 and 2011, 215 children died due to injuries sustained in falling television accidents.
• About 46 percent of television tip-overs involved TVs falling from a dresser or armoire; 31 percent were attributed to televisions which fell from entertainment centers or TV stands.
• Children under 5 are at the greatest risk, accounting for 64 percent of the injuries.