CONSUMER RESOURCES
Furniture Safety Week is organized nationally by the American Home Furnishings Alliance to increase awareness of furniture safety issues in the home. All segments of the industry are invited to participate in this week-long campaign shedding light on what are often considered “hidden hazards.” Consumers seeking guidance on how to identify potential hazards in their homes or to shop for new furniture that meets safety standards will find valuable resources below.
Emmy Award-winning consumer advocate Elisabeth Leamy offers easy steps you can take today to reduce potential home hazards.
Six Lifesaving Furniture Safety Tips
Furniture Safety Checklist (PDF)
Furniture Tip-Over Prevention Checklist (PDF)
Furniture Shopping Checklist (PDF)
Glass Tabletop Safety Checklist (PDF)
Secondhand Furniture Safety Checklist
The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) launched the Anchor It! campaign in 2015 to help educate parents and caregivers about the dangers of falling TVs and furniture. Despite having rates of injuries and fatalities higher than most people imagine, furniture and TVs are commonly considered “hidden” hazards. The Anchor It! campaign is raising awareness and educating parents and other caregivers about simple and inexpensive steps they can take to help prevent tip-overs. Find easy-to-follow instructions for installing anchors and other resources – in English and Spanish – at www.anchorit.gov.
The CertiPUR-US® program was developed to provide consumers with comfort and confidence by knowing the flexible polyurethane foam in the home furnishings they buy meets rigorous standards for content, emissions and durability. Today, foam producers from around the globe participate in the program by meeting the criteria for certification, which includes having their foam analyzed by independent, accredited laboratories. You can find tips for buying mattresses and upholstered furniture, along with a directory of CertiPUR-US participating companies and brands.
Need a childproofing professional? The International Association for Child Safety® (IAFCS) is a network of child safety professionals and babyproofers. IAFCS Members are recognized childproofing experts who are ready to help you make your home a safe place for your little one. In addition to a nationwide directory of experts, the ChildproofingExperts website offers home safety tips and resources, as well as a newsletter for staying informed about child safety issues.
Parents Against Tip-Overs (PAT) was originally founded in 2018 by a group of parents from across the nation who had all lost a child to a furniture tip-over incident. Following their personal tragedies, many of these parents tried for years to educate the public on the importance of anchoring furniture to the wall. At the same time, they were advocating for stronger safety standards for clothing storage furniture. In the last decade, TV tip-overs fatalities have greatly diminished while furniture tip-overs have remained a problem. Over 85% of furniture tip-over fatalities involve children, and thousands of children are sent to the ER every year from tip-over related injuries. In 2022, Parents Against Tip-Overs, Inc. became a 501(c)3 nonprofit organization, with the vision of becoming the top national resource for tip-over prevention. Learn about PAT’s work on the new federal furniture stability standard here.
Kids In Danger (KID) is a nonprofit organization dedicated to protecting children by fighting for product safety. KID was founded in 1998 by the parents of 16-month-old Danny Keysar, who died when a portable crib collapsed around his neck in his Chicago childcare home. Although the portable crib had been recalled five years earlier, word of its danger had not reached Danny’s parents, caregiver, or a state inspector who visited the home just eight days before Danny’s death. Learn more about KID here.
For 45 years, UFAC has been working to make homes safer. The UFAC Make Life Safer programs use independent, accredited laboratories to test participating manufacturers’ furniture components to the national flammability standard and to certain U.S. state requirements for toxic flame retardant chemicals. Manufacturers in UFAC Programs go above and beyond by taking extra steps to help protect their customers and their families. Learn more from UFAC about family fire safety here.
On November 1, 2007, Charlie Horn, a 2-year-old Kansas City boy, was killed when he attempted to climb a 30-inch dresser in his home. Through this tragedy Charlie’s House was born. Brett and Jenny Horn, Charlie’s parents, turned their tragedy into a mission. They began a movement to reduce in-home accidents through increased public awareness and education. In 2021, they opened Charlie’s House, a model simulation safety home that to serve as a resource for families and community organizations seeking information on safety and injury prevention. The mission to prevent accidents and injuries to children in and around the home is fulfilled through increased awareness, public education, and the distribution of safety devices. Schedule a visit or take advantage of a host of online resources at www.charlieshouse.org.