In a heartbreaking development, federal safety regulators are investigating the tragic incident involving a third child who died after an IKEA dresser tipped over. These devastating occurrences are far too frequent in American households, with a child losing their life every two weeks due to furniture or appliances falling on them, according to the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC). Additionally, a child is injured by falling furniture in the U.S. every 24 minutes.
The latest victim, 22-month-old Oliver Johnson, was crushed by an IKEA dresser in his home in Maplewood, Minnesota, on February 14. The family’s attorney, Rachel Simmons, shared that the family believed Oliver was simply sleeping and did not hear the dresser fall or him cry out for help. Unfortunately, his parents were unaware of the existing recall and are now pursuing legal action against IKEA, citing the company’s failure to provide adequate warnings about the dangers.
The CPSC and IKEA are currently looking into the circumstances surrounding Oliver’s tragic death. This investigation follows IKEA’s announcement of a repair program for around 27 million chests and dressers, aimed at addressing the risk of these items tipping over if they are not anchored to the wall. CPSC spokesman Scott Wolfson described the incident as a “tragic tip-over fatality,” but further details can only be released with IKEA’s consent due to legal restrictions.
This incident comes in the wake of two previous fatalities involving children and IKEA furniture. In 2014, 2-year-old Ethan Lee from New Jersey and 23-month-old Mia Brown from California both suffered fatal accidents involving unanchored dressers. Furthermore, IKEA acknowledged three other deaths linked to its chests and dressers since 1989. Last summer, consumers were advised to either remove these pieces from children’s access or utilize free anchoring hardware provided by IKEA to secure the furniture to the wall.
IKEA has shipped out over 300,000 sets of anchoring hardware since the recall announcement. “We strongly encourage customers to securely attach our dressers to the wall using the provided restraints and hardware, as outlined in the assembly instructions,” said company representative Lisa Carter. While IKEA’s dressers come with anchoring hardware, safety advocates argue that many parents remain unaware of the risks associated with unsecured furniture.
The problem extends beyond IKEA products; the alarming statistics reveal a widespread issue of parents underestimating the dangers of unsecured furniture in their homes. It is hoped that the Johnson family’s heartbreaking loss will raise awareness regarding this critical safety issue and ultimately prevent more tragic deaths.
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In summary, furniture safety is a serious issue that deserves immediate attention. Ensuring that heavy items are properly secured to the wall can save lives and prevent preventable tragedies in homes across the country.
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