A customer looks at a display of flat screened television at a Best Buy store April 15, 2009 in San Francisco, California. California state regulators are looking to reduce the electrical draw from TVs and impose the nation's first energy limits for televisions. (Photo by Justin Sullivan/Getty Images) (Photo by Justin Sullivan/Getty Images)

WASHINGTON, D.C. (KDKA) – New numbers show a record number of people were killed by falling televisions, furniture, and appliances in 2011.

The report from the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission shows 41 people were killed in 2011, an increase from 31 in 2010, and 27 in 2009.

The data shows that the majority of those killed were under the age of nine.

The CPSC is urging parents of young children to anchor and stabilize their televisions, furniture, and appliances to prevent tip-over related incidents. In a quest to reach a toy, TV or game remote, or other desired item, young children are using dressers and tables as climbing devices and the results are tragic.

“We know that low-cost anchoring devices are effective in preventing tip-over incidents,” said CPSC Chairman Inez Tenenbaum. “I urge parents to anchor their TVs, furniture and appliances and protect their children. It takes just a few minutes to do and it can save lives.”

CPSC estimates that more than 43,000 consumers are injured each year in tip-over incidents. More than 25,000 (59 percent) of those injuries are to children under the age of 18. Falling furniture accounts for more than half (52 percent) of the injury reports. Falling televisions have proven to be more deadly, as they are associated with more than half (62 percent) of reported fatalities.

Small children are no match for a falling dresser, detective desk, wall unit or 50- to 100-pound television. Children involved in these tip-over incidents often sustain severe head and other injuries to the body as a result of being crushed by the product or trapped under its weight. In 57 percent of the reported fatalities and 39 percent of injuries, the victim was struck in the head by the falling item.

Some reports indicate that as families purchase or transition to flat screen televisions, their older and often heavier televisions are moved into bedrooms and other rooms in the house, without the proper stand or anchoring device accompanying them. Many of the reported fatalities occurred in bedrooms, living rooms and family rooms with 40 percent occurring in bedrooms and 19 percent occurring in living rooms or family rooms.

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News Release From CPSC

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