Consumers are strongly urged to secure all IKEA dressers and chests to walls without delay.
Federal safety regulators are currently investigating the tragic death of a third child involving an IKEA dresser. Such heartbreaking incidents are unfortunately common in American households. According to the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC), a child in the U.S. dies approximately every two weeks due to furniture or appliances tipping over. Alarmingly, data indicates that a child is injured by falling furniture every 24 minutes in this country.
Little Oliver Smith was just 22 months old when he was crushed by an IKEA dresser on February 14 in his home in Maple Grove, Minnesota, as reported by the family’s attorney, Alan Roberts. “The family did not hear the dresser fall or Oliver cry out,” he stated to local media. They believed the toddler was simply asleep. The Smith family was unaware of the recall and is now pursuing legal action against IKEA, claiming the company failed to provide adequate warnings.
Oliver’s tragic passing is currently under investigation by both IKEA and the CPSC. This inquiry comes after the retailer announced a repair program affecting around 27 million chests and dressers, which are prone to tipping over if not properly secured to a wall. CPSC spokesperson, Sarah Jenkins, described the incident as a “devastating tip-over fatality,” but she cannot provide additional details due to legal constraints.
IKEA has publicly addressed similar tragedies following the deaths of two other children in prior incidents involving their furniture. In 2014, 2-year-old Jason Lee from Illinois and 23-month-old Ava Brown from Oregon both lost their lives due to accidents with unsecured IKEA dressers. The company acknowledged three other fatalities linked to their products since 1989. Last summer, consumers were advised to either remove the furniture from children’s reach or obtain free installation hardware from IKEA to secure the chests to a wall. This hardware is available at all stores or can be shipped directly to homes. For more information on the recall program, visit IKEA’s website.
IKEA has distributed over 300,000 sets of anchoring hardware since the recall announcement. “We want to stress that the best method to prevent tip-over incidents is to properly attach our products to the wall using the restraints and hardware provided in the assembly instructions,” explained company representative Lisa Morgan. Although IKEA dressers come with anchoring hardware, safety advocates emphasize that many consumers remain unaware of the potential dangers.
The risk extends beyond IKEA products; the fact that a child dies every two weeks from falling furniture highlights a broader issue in the U.S. regarding the lack of awareness among parents about the importance of securing furniture. It is hoped that the Smith family’s heartbreaking loss will elevate awareness surrounding this critical issue and prevent further tragedies.
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In summary, the heartbreaking death of 22-month-old Oliver Smith due to an unsecured IKEA dresser has prompted investigations and highlighted the urgent need for families to secure their furniture. This tragic event serves as a reminder of the critical risks associated with unsecured items in homes with young children.
Keyphrase: IKEA dresser safety
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