Furniture Safety Week Highlights Hidden Home Hazards

WASHINGTON, DC, UNITED STATES, October 5, 2026 /CourierPR/ -- Furniture Safety Week, running from October 5 to 10, 2024, aims to raise awareness about hidden home hazards, particularly the risk of furniture tip-overs. According to the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission, from 2013 to 2023, more than 100 children aged one to three lost their lives due to furniture tip-over accidents. Thousands of additional children were injured annually.

Safety experts from the American Home Furnishings Alliance, which launched Furniture Safety Week, offer seven key tips to help prevent such tragedies. One of the most significant risks comes from fabric dressers, which are popular but often pose a tip-over danger. These dressers, typically made with a metal frame and fabric drawers, are not engineered to meet the stability standards required by law. If they tip over, they can crush small children or even an adult's feet.

Consumers are advised to check SaferProducts.gov to see if their fabric dressers have been recalled. If not, they should follow the instructions for a full refund or report the dresser. The alliance also recommends checking the manufacture date on furniture used to store clothing, including dressers or chests. Starting in September 2023, these pieces had to meet a strict new stability standard.

To secure furniture, consumers should store heavier items down low and avoid placing toys or treats on top of furniture where children can see but not reach them. New or old furniture with shelves, doors, or drawers should be anchored to the wall. Many manufacturers include free anchors, and consumers can find additional advice at www.AnchorIt.gov.

For televisions, the safest strategy is to wall-mount them according to manufacturer instructions. If this is not possible, choose a low, sturdy cabinet and secure the TV to the wall or to the furniture with a TV anchor. Never place TVs on furniture not built to hold electronics.

When it comes to upholstered furniture and mattresses, consumers should opt for those made with CertiPUR-US® certified foam. This certification ensures the foam has been screened for chemicals that can harm human health or contribute to poor indoor air quality. Consumers can check the directory at CertiPUR.US or consult the CertiPUR-US mobile app while shopping.

Parents are advised to monitor children around recliners and lift chairs, ensuring they do not play on them or fiddle with the buttons or remotes. Recliners should be returned to the upright and closed position when not in use. Bunk beds must have railings on both sides of the top bunk that extend 5 inches or more above the mattress. Decorative finials or extensions of bed posts on the top bunk are not allowed, as they can pose a strangulation hazard.

Lastly, consumers should be aware of the risks associated with glass tabletops. Do not let children play on or around glass-top tables, and never stand on a glass-top table. To ensure safety, glass tabletops should be made from tempered glass, which is less likely to break. Consumers can check the edge or a corner of the glass tabletop for the word "tempered" or a "T" to confirm it is safe.

CertiPUR-US® is proud to be a collaborator for Furniture Safety Week, which was launched by the American Home Furnishings Alliance in 2024 to improve awareness of home safety issues involving furniture.