Consumer Reports offers tips to prevent furniture tip-over accidents

A young student died after a tragic incident at a Florida elementary school when an interactive display board, similar to a flat-screen TV, fell on him in his classroom.

The case is still under investigation, but thousands of children are injured each year in tip-over incidents involving televisions and furniture.

Consumer Reports safety experts say there are steps families can take to help prevent a similar tragedy at home.

Every year, thousands of children are taken to emergency departments after furniture, appliances, or televisions fall on them.

Tip-overs can happen when a child tries to climb on, pull at, or move furniture, large appliances, or televisions that are unstable or not properly anchored to a wall.

TV mounts are sold based on the maximum weight and screen size they can support. Even if two mounts are rated for the same size television, they may not be designed to hold the same weight, which can vary by brand.

For the greatest security, Consumer Reports says a TV mount should be secured to wall studs.

In addition to the risk of a TV being mounted incorrectly, placing one on top of a dresser or bookshelf is never safe unless both the TV and the furniture are properly secured with safety anchors.

While testing anchor kits in its lab, Consumer Reports experts used a special machine to measure how much force each kit could withstand before breaking or detaching from the wall. The tests found that, in general, metal or nylon strap components attached to wall studs performed best.

It is also important to choose an anchor made for the specific wall and stud materials in your home.

Simple Mount Furniture Anti-Tip Kit performed best in Consumer Reports' test on wooden studs behind drywall. For homes with metal studs, Consumer Reports recommends QuakeHOLD! Furniture Securing Straps.

Both products cost less than $15, a modest price for added peace of mind.

Consumer Reports also recommends hiring a professional for surfaces that are harder to anchor into, such as exposed brick or concrete walls.