What you need to know about your new television

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Reported by: Catherine Varnum

Email: cvarnum@ActionNewsJax.com

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Published: 2/07 3:47 pm

Updated: 2/07 11:40 pm

JACKSONVILLE, Fla.-- There's a warning out for parents as families are buying new and more televisions for their home.

The pictures are hard to look at. They show a little boy, hooked up to machines, stuck in a hospital bed with bruises all over his face. For more than a month, Cole Durham and his parents called the hospital home. "When we were in the hospital and the surgeons said we think his face will look pretty much like it did. I remember looking at my husband and thinking, there is no way his face is going to look the same," said Mrs. Durham.

It was a split second the Durhams will never forget. "As I was walking towards the bedroom, I heard the crash." They looked away and a television fell down on their son. Nearly every bone in his face was broken.

4-year-old Dymounique was killed by a falling television.

Falling televisions have killed close to 170 kids since 2000. Jacksonville's Samara Brinkley lost her daughter. After a long day of work, she sat down to watch cartoons with little Dymounique. "We were watching Jimmy Neutron. Then, all of a sudden, I dozed off and I woke up to a boom," said Brinkley.

She dozed off for only a minute. "She was just laying there. It was so scary," said Brinkley.

The family TV killed her 4 year old little girl.

Tip-overs claim the life of a child every two weeks. With all the new, sleek, flashy flat screens filling homes, the risk is even greater.

Jessica Winberry is the program assistant for Safe Kids of Northeast Florida. It's part of Wolfson Children's Hospital. She says sometimes parents create the risk. "You've got moms or dads hanging up equipment as a 'do it yourself-er' and they're not an expert and it's not done properly," said Winberry. "With a flat screen, it's one heavy item in a specialized area. It's easier for it to come down on a child," said Winberry.

Cole Durham spent more than a month in the hospital, with nearly every bone in his face broken.

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Cole Durham spent more than a month in the hospital, with nearly every bone in his face broken.

Research Action News found shows 22,000 children under 8 were rushed to emergency rooms between 2000 and 2010. Seventy percent of the fatalities involved televisions. "What parents see is from their viewpoint. You have to get down and look at life from a child's viewpoint," said Winberry.

It's a painful lesson the Durhams learned. It's also a life lesson they want to share so others don't have to experience the pain firsthand. "We have this actual chest of drawers anchored to the wall very well. It is very sturdy and won't move a bit. The flat screen is anchored to wall very well and there is a strap behind," said the Durham's. "It needs to be a further miracle for us that we need to save and create miracles for other kids and other families."

The Consumer Product Safety Commission does have some other tips to keep kids safe. For more information, just click on the link below.

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The views expressed here do not necessarily represent those of Action News Jacksonville

ScorpioJax66 - 2/8/2012 9:15 AM

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The story fails to mention the sizes of the TVs. Not all flat screens are heavy. The size suitable for a child, is much lighter than old style TVs which have killed many children. The article says "Research Action News found shows 22,000 children under 8 were rushed to emergency rooms between 2000 and 2010. Seventy percent of the fatalities involved televisions." 20,000 where? In Jacksonville, the state, the nation the world, and for what reason since it says only 70% of the fatalities involve televisions? I am sure more than 20,000 children nation or state wide went to the ER and I am pretty sure that 70% of then were not killed by TVs. The article also gives no proof they were all flat screen types and not some older types as well. Scare tactic story with no real substance. Now some people think all flat screens are dangerous when it is the size and installation that matter. Kids are killed by cars, riding bicycles, eating hot dogs, peanuts, bathtubs, ect. So do not buy any of those things either.

Sammi9391 - 2/8/2012 12:30 AM

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As bulky as the old tv's were we could get away with making the newer televisions a bit thicker and not allow them to be hung up. It saddens me and scares me to think that people don't consider this when purchasing televisions. I was going to purchase a television for my son but I refuse to buy a flat screen. I can't stand the thought of something harming him. I feel sorry for these families and my prayers are with you all.

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