Product Instability or Tip-Over Injuries and Fatalities Associated with

Televisions, Furniture, and Appliances: 2021 Report

February 2022

Adam Suchy
Directorate for Epidemiology
Division of Hazard Analysis
U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission
4330 East West Highway
Bethesda, MD 20814

This analysis was prepared by CPSC staff and has not been reviewed or approved by, and may
not necessarily reflect the views of, the Commission.
Table of Contents

Executive Summary……………………………………………………………………………...4

Emergency Department-Treated Injuries……………………………………………………...7

Table 1a: Annual Average of Estimated Injuries Due to Product Instability or Tip Overs for
All Ages by Year 2011–2020..……………………………………………....................................8
Figure 1: Annual Average of Estimated ED-Treated Injuries Due to Product Instability or Tip
Overs for All Ages by Year 2011–2020…………………………………………………………..9
Table 1b: Annual Average of Estimated Injuries Due to Product Instability or Tip Overs Among
Children Under 18 Years by Year 2011–2020…………………………………………………..10
Table 1c: Annual Average of Estimated Injuries Due to Product Instability or Tip Overs Among
Adults Ages 18 to 59 Years by Year 2011–2020………………………………………………..11
Table 1d: Annual Average of Estimated Injuries Due to Product Instability or Tip Overs Among
Seniors 60 Years and Older by Year 2011–2020………………………………………………...12
Table 2: Annual Average of Estimated Injuries Due to Product Instability or Tip Overs by
Victim Age Category, 2018–2020……………………………………………………………......13
Table 3: Annual Average of Estimated Injuries Due to Product Instability or Tip Overs by
Product and Victim Age Category, 2018–2020………………………………..……….………..14
Table 4: Annual Average of Estimated Injuries Due to Product Instability or Tip Overs by
Selected Child Victim Age Category 2018–2020.…………………………………………….....15
Table 5: Annual Average of Estimated Injuries Due to Product Instability or Tip Overs by
Furniture Subcategories 2018–2020……….……………………………………………………..16
Table 6: Annual Average of Estimated Injuries Due to Product Instability or Tip Overs by
Sex 2018–2020.…………………………..…………………………………................................17
Table 7: Annual Average of Estimated Injuries Due to Product Instability or Tip Overs by
Diagnosis 2018–2020.………………………………………………………................................18
Table 8: Annual Average of Estimated Injuries Due to Product Instability or Tip Overs by Area
of Body 2018–2020.……………………………………………………………………………...19
Table 9: Proportion of Product Instability or Tip-Over-Related Estimated ED-Treated Injuries
and the Annual Average Estimated Proportions of the U.S. Population by Race/Ethnicity and
Age Group 2019–2020………...…………………………………………………………………21

Reported Fatalities……………………………………………………………………………22

Table 10: Product Instability or Tip-Over-Related Fatalities Reported to CPSC by Year 2000–
2020…...........................................................................................................................................23
Figure 2: Product Instability or Tip-Over-Related Fatalities Reported to CPSC for Different
Age Groups by Sex and Product Category 2000–2020.…………………………………………24

2
Figure 3: Product Instability or Tip-Over-Related Fatalities Reported to CPSC by Television
and Furniture Type 2000–2020…..……………………………………………………………...25
Figure 4: Product Instability or Tip-Over-Related Fatalities Reported to CPSC for Furniture-
Only by Furniture Type 2000–2020.…………………………………………………………….26
Figure 5: Product Instability or Tip-Over-Related Fatalities Reported to CPSC for Appliances
by Appliance Type 2000–2020.…………………………………………………........................27
Figure 6: Product Instability or Tip-Over-Related Fatalities Reported to CPSC by Location
2000–2020………………...……………………………………………………………………..28
Figure 7: Product Instability or Tip-Over-Related Fatalities Reported to CPSC by Room of
Incident 2000–2020.……………………………...……………………………………………...29
Figure 8: Product Instability or Tip-Over-Related Fatalities Reported to CPSC by Manner of
Death 2000–2020.………………..…………………………………………………………....…30
Figure 9: Product Instability or Tip-Over-Related Fatalities Reported to CPSC by Body Area
Injured 2000–2020.……………………………………………………........................................31
Figure 10: Product Instability or Tip-Over-Related Child Fatalities Reported to CPSC by
Victim Age at Time of Death 2000–2020..……………………….………...................................32
Figure 11: Product Instability or Tip-Over-Related Child Fatalities Reported to CPSC by
Product Category 2000–2020.……………………...…………………………………….……...33
Figure 12: Product Instability or Tip-Over-Related Child Fatalities Reported to CPSC by
Scenario 2000–2020.……..…………………………………………………………...................34
Figure 13: Product Instability or Tip-Over-Related Child Fatalities Reported to CPSC by
Response Time After Tip-Over 2000–2020……………………………………………………..35
Figure 14: Product Instability or Tip-Over-Related Adult and Senior Fatalities Reported to
CPSC by Victim Age at Time of Death 2000–2020.……………………………………….........36
Figure 15: Product Instability or Tip-Over-Related Senior Fatalities Reported to CPSC by
Product Category 2000–2020.………………………..…….……………………........................37

Appendix A: Methodology for Selecting Product Instability or Tip-Over Injuries and Fatalities
Associated with Televisions, Furniture, and Appliances………………………….......................38

Table 11: Potential Instability or Tip-Over Television, Furniture, and Appliance Product
Codes…………………………………………………………………………………………......39

Race and Ethnicity Variables and Specifications…………………………………………….41

Table 12: NEISS Patient Race/Ethnicity Categorization………………………………………...43

Appendix B: Conventions for Determining In-Scope Incidents………………………………..44

3
Executive Summary

This report contains information on injuries and fatalities associated with television,
furniture, and appliance product instability, or tip-over incidents. Tip-over incidents include
scenarios where heavy furniture falls on an individual from some type of interaction, such as
climbing or exerting a force on the product while it is in one of its positions of normal use.
Product instability that can lead to a tip-over incident can be caused or affected by an unstable
design (small footprint, top heavy), use on a sloped or unstable surface (carpet), non-use of a tip-
over restraint device or use of a defective tip-over restraint device, heavy objects on top of
furniture, or multiple drawers open. A television or an appliance that falls in combination with
the furniture (that the television or appliance is resting in or on) is counted only in the furniture
category in tabulations by product types presented in this report.

This report presents a national estimate of emergency department-treated instability or

tip-over injuries, followed by the counts of reported fatalities. The injury estimates are for years
2018 through 2020,1 and fatal incidents are reported to have occurred from 2000 through 2020. 2
Appendix A presents the methodology for data extraction and selection criteria. Appendix B
describes conventions applied for determining the products and scenarios that are included in the
various product categories in this report. The statistics presented in this report are not comparable
to statistics released previously, due to refinement of the conventions for determining in-scope
National Electronic Injury Surveillance System (NEISS) injuries and reported deaths in the
Consumer Product Safety Risk Management System (CPSRMS) (see Appendix B).

Of the estimated annual average of 22,500 emergency department (ED)-treated injuries 3

(2018–2020) and the 581 reported fatalities 4 associated with tip-over incidents occurring
between 2000 and 2020, staff noted the following 5:

• Victims
o Estimated annual average number of ED-treated injuries:
 children under age 18 years suffered 10,000 (44%) injuries, while they
represent 22 percent of the population;
 adults ages 18 to 59 years suffered 8,400 (37%) injuries, while they represent
55 percent of the population; and
 seniors ages 60 years and older suffered 4,200 (19%) injuries, while they
represent 23 percent of the population.

1
Injury estimates are rounded to the nearest hundred.
2
Fatality counts should be considered incomplete for years 2019–2020, due to a time lag in reporting to CPSC.
3
Between 2011 and 2020, there were 12 NEISS tip-over injuries that ultimately resulted in deaths. Of these 12
deaths, two occurred between 2018 and 2020. All these deaths are included in both the national annual estimates
throughout the NEISS “injury” section and the fatality section of this report.
4
Between 2000 and 2020, there were 21 NEISS fatalities, and all of them appear in the fatality section of this report.
5
Percentages may not sum to 100, due to rounding.

4
 o Reported fatalities:
 472 (81%) involved children under age 18 years;
 20 (3%) involved adults ages 18 to 59 years; and
 89 (15%) involved seniors ages 60 years and older.

• Tip-over product(s)
o Estimated annual average number of ED-treated injuries:
 17,900 (79%) involved furniture (furniture-only, TV and furniture, or
appliance and furniture);
 3,700 (16%) involved only a television; and
 900 (4%) involved only an appliance.

o The estimated annual average number of ED-treated injuries involving children

(under age 18 years) and furniture 6 was 7,900. Among them:
 3,200 (40%) involved a table;
 2,400 (30%) involved a chest, bureau, or dresser;
 1,200 (15%) involved shelving, a shelving unit, or a bookcase; and
 800 (15%) involved all other furniture (including cabinets and stands).

o Reported fatalities:
 184 (32%) involved only a television;
 174 (30%) involved furniture and a television both tipping over;
 181 (31%) involved only furniture; and
 42 (7%) involved only an appliance. 7
• The largest appliance category was stove/oven (28 fatalities).

• Incident location8
o Estimated annual average number of ED-treated injuries:
 66% in residential settings, 8% in public settings, and 25% in locations not
specified.

o Reported fatalities:
 91% in residential settings, 4% in public settings, and 4% in locations not
specified.
 45% in bedrooms, 19% in living/family rooms, 12% in other locations
(kitchen, dining room, and miscellaneous other rooms), and 24% in unknown
room locations.

6
Seen in Table 1b, of the estimated 7,900 furniture-related injuries to children, about 4 percent of these incidents
also involved a television.
7
There were no fatalities involving an appliance and furniture both falling.
8
Public locations include nursing homes and assisted living facilities in both the NEISS injury estimates and in the
fatality section, which generally only affects the senior age group.

5
• Injury characterization (primary injury type and body area affected)
o Estimated annual average number of ED-treated injuries:
 30% contusions/abrasions, 16% internal organ injuries, 15% fractures, 13%
lacerations, and 26% all other diagnoses.
 35% were to legs, feet, and toes; 33% were head injuries; 17% were to arms,
hands, and fingers; 13% were torso injuries; and 2% were to all other body
parts.

o Reported fatalities:
 55% were crushed and remained under the product(s); 16% were hit/struck
by product(s), but not crushed under the product(s); 22% were due to
positional asphyxia; and 7% were due to other or unknown scenarios.
 66% were head injuries (58% head only; 7% head and torso); 24% were to
the torso only; and 9% were to limb(s) or unknown body parts.

It should be noted that the CPSC launched its “Anchor It!” Campaign in early 2015,9 a
national public education campaign to prevent furniture and television tip overs from killing and
seriously injuring children. Tip overs are a significant hidden hazard in the home, and CPSC’s
safety campaign is aimed at reducing the number of deaths and injuries from tipping televisions,
furniture, and appliances.

9
http://www.cpsc.gov/en/Safety-Education/Safety-Education-Centers/Tipover-Information-Center/.

6
Emergency Department-Treated Injuries

Table 1a shows that from 2018 through 2020, U.S. hospital emergency departments
treated an estimated average of 22,500 people annually for product instability or tip-over injuries
related to televisions, furniture, and appliances. 10 The All Furniture category, which includes
only furniture, furniture and a television, and furniture and an appliance falling, had the largest
number of instability or tip-over-related injuries among the three product categories, with a
national annual average estimate of 17,900 injuries (79 percent). This was followed by the
national annual average instability or tip-over injury estimate of 3,700 injuries (16 percent)
associated with only a television falling. Appliance-only tip overs accounted for a national
annual average of 900 injuries (4 percent). See Table 1a for a detailed breakdown; appliance
estimates for 2013, 2016, 2017, 2019, and 2020 are not presented because there were not enough
data to support reliable statistical estimates.

In this report, a television or an appliance falling in combination with furniture is counted

only in the furniture category. In Table 1a through Table 1d, the furniture category is subdivided
into incidents in which a television and furniture fell, and incidents in which either only furniture fell,
or an appliance and furniture fell. The succinct nature of NEISS narratives, and the medical
records from which the information is drawn, may fail to indicate a piece of furniture that may
have been involved along with a fallen television. Cases that definitively indicate both a
television and furniture fell were too few to produce robust estimates in the most recent years:
2017, 2018, 2019, and 2020. The previous annual report data were reevaluated, along with the
review of newer data, to ensure that the criteria for inclusion were applied consistently, and any
changes to data from past reports have been listed in Appendix A.

Regular usage patterns of products or emergency departments may have changed due to
the COVID-19 pandemic; thus, 2020 NEISS injury estimates may be different than expected
when examining longer-term trends. Some of the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic are
discussed in a separate CPSC report. 11

10
Based on the National Electronic Injury Surveillance System (NEISS), which is a probability survey of about 100
hospitals nationally.
11
Schroeder, Tom, “Effect of Novel Coronavirus Pandemic on 2020 NEISS Estimates (March–December, 2020)”
May 2021, U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission. This report is available at: Effect of Novel Coronavirus
Pandemic on 2020 NEISS Estimates (March–December, 2020) | CPSC.gov

7
 Table 1a shows the national annual average estimate of ED-treated tip-over injuries for
all ages for 2018 through 2020, as well as yearly estimates for years 2011 through 2020, for
comparison purposes. The national annual average estimate of injuries in Table 1a is broken out
by product categories: television-only, furniture (television and furniture; furniture-only; and
appliance and furniture), appliance-only, and a total for all product categories. In Tables 1a–1d,
under the column for “All Furniture” injury estimates, there are two additional, mutually
exclusive estimates in parentheses that subdivide the furniture category; these estimates are for
scenarios where a television and furniture both fell, and where only furniture fell or an appliance
and furniture both fell.

Table 1a
Annual Average of Estimated ED-Treated Injuries Due to
Product Instability or Tip Overs for All Ages by Year 2011–2020
Estimated ED-Treated Injuries 12

Year Television-Only13 All Furniture ([TV + Furn]; Appliance-Only Television, Furniture,

[Furn + Appl & Furn-Only]) 14 and Appliance Total
Annual Average
3,700 17,900 (–; 17,600) 900 22,500
(2018 – 2020)
Average 95%
(14,500 – 21,300)
Confidence Interval (3,000 – 4,400) (600– 1,200) (18,500 – 26,500)
(( –); (14,200 – 21,000))
(CI)
2020 3,200 14,300 (–; 14,100) – 18,100
2019 3,700 17,900 (–; 17,700) – 22,400
2018 4,300 21,500 (–; 20,900) 1,300 27,100
2017 5,900 20,100 (–; 19,400) – 27,100
2016 6,300 19,900 (1,200; 18,600) – 26,900
2015 9,000 20,500 (1,300; 19,200) 1,200 30,700
2014 10,600 22,500 (1,800; 20,700) 1,200 34,300
2013 10,500 22,300 (2,300; 20,000) – 33,800
2012 13,700 25,000 (2,900; 22,100) 1,200 39,900
2011 13,900 24,100 (3,100; 20,900) 2,100 40,100
Source: U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission: NEISS. The estimates include cases for television,
furniture, and appliance product codes, as described in Appendix B. Estimates that are not statistically
reliable are presented as “–” (see Appendix A). Estimates are rounded to the nearest hundred and may not
add up to the total, due to rounding.

12
The coefficients of variation (CVs) for the given estimates ranged from 0.0558 to 0.3199.
13
The television counts pertain to all televisions, including flat-screen televisions, as well as computer monitors
(laptops and “computers,” with no indication of a “computer monitor,” were considered out of scope). For 2018
through 2020, of the annual average of 4,000 television-related injuries (television-only and television and
furniture), 0.75% were computer monitors.
14
From 2018 through 2020, there were 0 cases in which an appliance and furniture both fell, accounting for 0.00%
of the 3-year annual average estimated injuries. For 2011 through 2020, scenarios in which both an appliance and
furniture fell accounted for 0.08% of all furniture-only and appliance and furniture estimated injuries.

8
 Figure 1 shows the yearly ED-treated tip-over injury estimates including all ages, for
2011 through 2020, for all tip overs, tip overs involving only furniture, and all tip overs
involving a television. 15 For 2011 through 2020, there is a statistically significant linear decline
in television-only, in furniture-only, and in overall ED-treated tip-over injuries including all
ages. The decline in the estimated number of overall injuries in large part, is due to the decline
in tip overs involving a television during those years. The estimated number of injuries may
have been influenced by the effect of the COVID-19 pandemic for the year 2020. Data were
insufficient to test statistically for any trends in the appliance-only category for the entire period
2011 through 2020.

Figure 1
Annual Average of Estimated ED-Treated Injuries Due to
Product Instability or Tip Overs for All Ages by Year 2011–2020

All Ages: Estimated Number of ED-Treated Tip-Over Injuries

45,000 40,100

40,000
Est. Number of ED-Treated Injuries

35,000

30,000

25,000 20,900
18,100 All Tip Overs
20,000
Furniture-Only-Related
15,000 All Television-Related
17,000
10,000 14,100
3,400
5,000

0
2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019 2020
Year

Source: U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission: NEISS. The estimates include cases for television,
furniture, and appliance product codes, as described in Appendix B.

15
“Furniture-Only-Related” estimates do not appear in Table 1a; estimates for “All Television-Related” tip overs are
summed using “Television-Only” and “TV + Furn” categories in Table 1a.

9
 Table 1b shows the national annual average estimates of ED-treated tip-over injuries
involving children ages 0 to 17 years old. From 2011 through 2020, there is a statistically
significant linear decline in television-only and in furniture-only 16 ED-treated tip-over injuries to
children. There is also a statistically significant linear decline in overall tip-over injuries to
children from 2011 through 2020. Data were insufficient to test statistically for any trends in the
appliance-only category for the entire period 2011 through 2020. During the most recent years,
2018 through 2020, about 1 in every 5 of all ED-treated tip-over injuries to children involved a
television (including only a television, or a television and furniture).

Table 1b
Annual Average of Estimated ED-Treated Injuries Due to
Product Instability or Tip Overs Among Children Under 18 Years by Year 2011–2020
Estimated ED-Treated Injuries 17
All Furniture ([TV + Furn]; Television, Furniture,
Year Television-Only Appliance-Only
[Furn + Appl & Furn-Only]) and Appliance Total

Annual Average
1,800 7,900 (–; 7,600) – 10,000
(2018 – 2020)
Average 95%
(5,600 – 10,200)
Confidence Interval (1,300 – 2,400) – (7,200 – 12,700)
(( –); (5,300 – 9,900))
(CI)
2020 1,700 6,100 (–; 6,000) – 8,100
2019 1,800 8,300 (–; 8,100) – 10,500
2018 2,000 9,200 (–; 8,700) – 11,300
2017 3,300 8,800 (–; 8,300) – 12,100
2016 3,800 10,100 (–; 9,000) – 13,900
2015 5,900 9,900 (–; 8,900) – 16,000
2014 6,400 11,000 (1,600; 9,300) – 17,400
2013 6,200 12,200 (2,100; 10,100) – 18,400
2012 9,500 13,600 (2,800; 10,800) – 23,200
2011 9,600 13,600 (3,000; 10,600) – 23,400
Source: U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission: NEISS. The estimates include cases for television,
furniture, and appliance product codes, as described in Appendix B. Estimates that are not statistically
reliable are presented as “–” (see Appendix A). Estimates are rounded to the nearest hundred and may not
add up to the total, due to rounding.

16
Although “furniture-only” estimates do not appear in Table 1b, a trend analysis was performed for estimated ED-
treated tip-over injuries to children when only furniture tipped over (e.g., no appliance and furniture; and no
television and furniture scenarios included). A statistically significant decreasing linear trend over the years 2011
through 2020 was found.
17
The CVs for the given estimates ranged from 0.0695 to 0.2371.

10
 Table 1c shows the national annual average estimates of ED-treated tip-over injuries
involving adults ages 18 to 59 years old. From 2011 through 2020, there is a statistically
significant linear decline in furniture-only 18 and in overall ED-treated tip-over injuries to adults.
Data were insufficient to test statistically for any trends in the television-only and appliance-only
categories for the entire period 2011 through 2020. For the years 2018 through 2020, about 15
percent of all adult ED-treated tip-over injuries involved a television (including only a television,
or a television and furniture).

Table 1c
Annual Average of Estimated ED-Treated Injuries Due to
Product Instability or Tip Overs Among Adults Ages 18 to 59 Years by Year 2011–2020
Estimated ED-Treated Injuries 19
All Furniture ([TV + Furn]; Television, Furniture,
Year Television-Only Appliance-Only
[Furn + Appl & Furn-Only]) and Appliance Total
Annual Average
1,200 6,700 (–; 6,700) 400 8,400
(2018 – 2020)
Average 95%
(5,600 – 7,800)
Confidence Interval (900 – 1,500) (200 – 600) (7,100 – 9,600)
( –; (5,600 – 7,800))
(CI)
2020 – 5,100 (–; 5,100) – 6,300
2019 1,400 6,600 (–; 6,600) – 8,300
2018 1,300 8,400 (–; 8,300) – 10,500
2017 1,800 8,600 (–; 8,500) – 11,200
2016 1,700 6,900 (–; 6,900) – 9,200
2015 2,800 7,300 (–; 7,100) – 11,000
2014 3,200 9,300 (–; 9,100) – 13,500
2013 3,700 8,300 (–; 8,100) – 12,900
2012 3,200 8,900 (–; 8,900) – 13,100
2011 3,500 8,300 (–; 8,200) 1,700 13,400
Source: U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission: NEISS. The estimates include cases for television,
furniture, and appliance product codes, as described in Appendix B. Estimates that are not statistically
reliable are presented as “–” (see Appendix A). Estimates are rounded to the nearest hundred and may not
add up to the total, due to rounding.

18
Although “furniture-only” estimates do not appear in Table 1b, a trend analysis was performed for estimated ED-
treated tip-over injuries to adults when only furniture tipped over (e.g., no appliance and furniture or television and
furniture scenarios included). A statistically significant decreasing linear trend over the years 2011 through 2020
was found.
19
The CVs for the given estimates ranged from 0.0749 to 0.2324.

11
 Table 1d shows the national annual average estimates of ED-treated tip-over injuries
involving seniors ages 60 years and older. From 2011 through 2020, no linear trend was
detected for furniture (whether a television was or was not involved), or for overall ED-treated
tip-over injuries for seniors. Data were insufficient to test statistically for any trends in the
television-only and appliance-only categories for the entire period 2011 through 2020. For the
years 2018 through 2020, about 16 percent of all senior ED-treated tip-over injuries involved a
television (including only a television, or a television and furniture).

Table 1d
Annual Average of Estimated ED-Treated Injuries Due to
Product Instability or Tip Overs Among Seniors 60 years and Older by Year 2011–2020
Estimated ED-Treated Injuries 20

Year Television-Only All Furniture ([TV + Furn]; Appliance-Only Television, Furniture,

[Furn + Appl & Furn-Only]) 21 and Appliance Total

Annual Average 700 – 4,200

3,300 (–; 3,300)
(2018 – 2020)
Average 95%
(2,400 – 4,200)
Confidence Interval (400 – 900) – (3,100 – 5,300)
( –; (2,400 – 4,200))
(CI)
2020 – 3,000 (–; 3,000) – 3,700
2019 – 3,000 (–; 2,900) – 3,700
2018 – 3,900 (–; 3,900) – 5,200
2017 – 2,700 (–; 2,600) – 3,800
2016 – 2,800 (–; 2,800) – 3,700
2015 – 3,300 (–; 3,300) – 3,800
2014 – 2,300 (–; 2,300) – 3,300
2013 – 1,800 (–; 1,800) – 2,400
2012 – 2,400 (–; 2,300) – 3,500
2011 – 2,200 (–; 2,100) – 3,300
Source: U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission: NEISS. The estimates include cases for television,
furniture, and appliance product codes, as described in Appendix B. Estimates that are not statistically
reliable are presented as “–” (see Appendix A). Estimates are rounded to the nearest hundred and may not
add up to the total, due to rounding.

For the remainder of the injury section, furniture category estimates also include
incidents in which both a television and furniture fell. There were no injuries of a victim of any
age involving both an appliance and furniture falling in the period 2018 through 2020.

20
The CVs for the given estimates ranged from 0.1296 to 0.2650.
21
There were no senior injuries in which an appliance and furniture both fell in any year from 2011 through 2020.

12
 Table 2 presents the estimated annual average number of ED-treated tip-over injuries for
the various product categories by victim age category, and the percent of the total estimated
number of injuries in parentheses for each category breakdown. As the table shows, children
younger than 10 years of age account for the largest proportion of product instability or tip-over
injuries, with an estimated annual average of 8,900 injuries, which is 39 percent of all tip-over
injuries. Children under 10 years old also had the most furniture-related injuries (7,100 injuries;
31 percent of all injuries), and the most television-only injuries (1,600 injuries; 7 percent of all
injuries).

Table 2
Annual Average of Estimated ED-Treated Injuries Due to
Product Instability or Tip Overs by Victim Age Category 2018–2020
Estimated ED-Treated Injuries 22 (Percent of Total Estimate)
Age Category
(in years) All Furniture (TV + Furn & Television, Furniture, and
Television-Only
Furn + Appl & Furn-Only) Appliance Total

<1 – 9 1,600 (7%) 7,100 (31%) 8,900 (39%)

10 – 19 – 1,100 (5%) 1,400 (6%)

20 – 29 – 1,300 (6%) 1,600 (7%)

30 – 39 – 1,900 (9%) 2,200 (10%)

40 – 49 – 1,800 (8%) 2,300 (10%)

50 – 59 400 (2%) 1,500 (6%) 1,900 (9%)

60 – 69 – 1,000 (5%) 1,400 (6%)

≥ 70 400 (2%) 2,200 (10%) 2,800 (12%)

Total 3,700 (16%) 17,900 (79%) 22,500 (100%)

Source: U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission: NEISS. The estimates include cases for television,
furniture, and appliance product codes, as described in Appendix B. Appliance tip overs, not shown as a
separate column in the table, account for 4% of the total estimated injuries. Estimates that are not
statistically reliable are presented as “–” (see Appendix A). Estimates are rounded to the nearest hundred
and may not add up to the total, due to rounding.

22
The CVs for the given estimates (2018–2020) ranged from 0.1036 to 0.2355.

13
 To simplify the analysis, for the remainder of this report, the age groups of children
(younger than 18 years), adults (18 years to younger than 60 years), and seniors (60 years and
older) are used when discussing product instability or tip-over-related injuries for television-
only, furniture-related, and appliance-only categories. Children account for almost half (44
percent) of all ED-treated instability or tip-over injury estimates from 2018 through 2020. Adults
and seniors account for 37 percent and 19 percent of all tip-over injuries from 2018 through
2020, respectively.

Table 3 presents national annual average estimates of ED-treated tip-over injuries by age
group and product category. The injury rates, per 100,000 people of each age group, are shown
in parentheses next to the estimates. The furniture category, which includes scenarios when both
a television and furniture fall, was associated with most of the estimated injuries for each age
group. Of the three age groups, children sustain the highest annual average estimated number of
ED-treated injuries (10,000 injuries), as well as the highest rate of tip-over injuries occurring in
the population (14 injuries per 100,000 population). The injury rates are similar among the adult
and senior age groups; the senior group incurred an estimated six injuries per 100,000 population
and the adult group incurred an estimated five injuries per 100,000 population.

Table 3
Annual Average of Estimated ED-Treated Injuries Due to
Product Instability or Tip Overs by Product and Victim Age Category 2018–2020
Estimated ED-Treated Injuries 23
Annual Average (Emergency Department Injuries Per 100,000 U.S. Population 24)
2018 – 2020 Children (<1 to 17 years) Adults (18 to 59 years) Seniors (>60 years)

Televisions, Furniture, and

10,000 (14) 8,400 (5) 4,200 (6)
Appliances

Average 95%
Confidence Interval (CI) (7,200, 12,700) (7,100, 9,600) (3,100, 5,300)

Television-Only 1,800 (3) 1,200 (1) 700 (1)

All Furniture (TV + Furn &

7,900 (11) 6,700 (4) 3,300 (4)
Furn + Appl & Furn-Only)
Appliance-Only – 400 (<1) –

Source: U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission: NEISS. The estimates include cases for television,
furniture, and appliance product codes, as described in Appendix B. Estimates that are not statistically
reliable are presented as “–” (see Appendix A). Estimates are rounded to the nearest hundred and may not
add up to the total, due to rounding.

23
The CVs for the given estimates (2018–2020) ranged from 0.0748 to 0.2324.
24
The U.S. population estimate for each age group is an average of 2018–2020 data of that age group from the “Annual
Estimates of the Resident Population by Single Year of Age and Sex” file in the U.S. Census data found at:
https://www.census.gov/programs-surveys/popest/technical-documentation/research/evaluation-estimates/2020-
evaluation-estimates/2010s-national-detail.html.

14
 Children account for the largest portion of television-only and furniture-related injuries.
The estimates related to children can be further subdivided into age categories for victims less
than 1-year-old (less than 1 month to 11 months), 1-year-old (12 months to 23 months), 2 years
old (24 months to 35 months), 3 years old (36 months to 47 months), 4 years old (48 months to
59 months), 5 years old (60 months to 71 months), 6 years old (72 months to 83 months), and
children 7 years to 17 years old. Table 4 presents national annual average estimates of ED-
treated tip-over injuries by age group and product category. The injury rates, per 100,000 people
of each age group, are shown in parentheses next to the estimates.

As seen in Table 4, out of all children, victims ages 1 to 4 years account for 60 percent of
all tip overs. For the furniture-related category, 1-year-olds and 2-year-olds account for the
highest number of estimated injuries (1,400 and 1,300 injuries, respectively). Children ages 1-
year-old and 2-years-old sustain the highest rate of tip-over injuries occurring in the population
(48 injuries and 44 injuries per 100,000 population, respectively)

Table 4
Annual Average of Estimated ED-Treated Injuries Due to
Product Instability or Tip Overs by Selected Child Victim Age Category 2018–2020
Child Age Estimated ED-Treated Injuries for Children 25 (Injury Rate Per 100,000 Persons)
Category All Furniture (TV + Furn & Television, Furniture, and
(in years) Television-Only
Furn + Appl & Furn-Only) Appliance Total

<1 – 600 (16) 700 (18)

1 – 1,400 (38) 1,800 (48)

2 – 1,300 (34) 1,700 (44)

3 – 1,000 (26) 1,400 (35)

4 – 800 (20) 1,000 (25)

5 – 700 (17) 700 (19)

6 – – 500 (12)

7 – 17 – 1,700 (4) 2,100 (5)

Total 1,800 (3) 7,900 (11) 10,000 (14)

Source: U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission: NEISS. The estimates include cases for television,
furniture, and appliance product codes, as described in Appendix B. Appliance tip overs, not shown as a
separate column in the table, account for 2% of the total estimated injuries. Estimates that are not
statistically reliable are presented as “–” (see Appendix A). Estimates are rounded to the nearest hundred
and may not add up to the total, due to rounding.

25
The CVs for the given estimates (2018–2020) ranged from 0.1410 to 0.2813.

15
 In Table 5, the furniture-related tip-over injury estimates are classified further by
furniture subcategory. Tables were involved in more than one in three (37 percent) ED-treated
tip-over injuries involving furniture over all ages; and tables were also the largest furniture-
related category for each age group: children, adults, and seniors.

Children were the age group with the most furniture-related ED-treated injuries (44
percent), followed by adults (38 percent), and the senior age group (18 percent). There was an
estimated annual average of 2,400 ED-treated injuries to children involving chests, bureaus, and
dressers; of these, 8 percent are known to have involved a fallen television as well. Among the
17,900 annual average estimated furniture-related injuries over all ages from 2018 through 2020,
about 2 percent indicated a television also fell.

Table 5
Annual Average of Estimated ED-Treated Injuries Due to
Product Instability or Tip Overs by Furniture Subcategories 2018–2020
Estimated ED-Treated Injuries 26 (Percent of Total Estimate)
Furniture
Subcategory Seniors (60 years and
Children (<1 to 17 years) Adults (18 to 59 years) All Ages Total
older)

Tables 3,200 (17%) 2,200 (13%) 1,200 (7%) 6,700 (37%)

Chests, Bureaus, and

2,400 (13%) 800 (5%) – 3,500 (20%)
Dressers (CBD)

Shelving, Shelving
Units, and Bookcases 1,200 (7%) 2,000 (11%) 900 (5%) 4,000 (22%)
(Shelf)

Cabinets – 1,000 (5%) 400 (2%) 1,700 (10%)

Remaining
Furniture 800 (5%) 700 (4%) 400 (3%) 1,800 (11%)
Subcategory

Total 7,900 (44%) 6,700 (38%) 3,300 (18%) 17,900 (100%)

Source: U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission: NEISS. The estimates include cases for furniture
product codes, as described in Appendix B. It includes cases where a television or appliance also fell.
Estimates that are not statistically reliable are presented as “–” (see Appendix A). Estimates are rounded
to the nearest hundred and may not add up to the total, due to rounding.

26
The CVs for the given estimates (2018–2020) ranged from 0.1056 to 0.2308.

16
 There were an estimated 11,400 females injured (51 percent) and an estimated 11,100
males injured (49 percent) annually among all product instability or tip-over incidents for all
ages. Table 6 presents the estimates for each victim age category by product category and sex.
There was no statistical difference by sex in children, adults, seniors, or all ages combined for
any of the categories: television-only, furniture-related, or the combined category estimate of all
tip-over incidents. 27

Table 6
Annual Average of Estimated ED-Treated Injuries Due to
Product Instability or Tip Overs by Sex 2018–2020
Estimated ED-Treated Injuries 28 (Percent of Total Estimate)
Age Group Sex All Furniture (TV + Television,
Appliance-
Television-Only Furn & Furn + Appl Furniture, and
Only
& Furn-Only) Appliance Total

Female 800 (4%) 3,400 (15%) – 4,300 (19%)

Children
Male 1,000 (4%) 4,500 (20%) – 5,600 (25%)

Female 700 (3%) 3,900 (17%) – 4,700 (21%)

Adults
Male 500 (2%) 2,800 (13%) – 3,700 (16%)

Female 400 2,000 (9%) – 2,500 (11%)

Seniors
Male – 1,300 (6%) – 1,800 (8%)

Female 1,900 (8%) 9,400 (42%) – 11,400 (51%)

All Ages
Male 1,800 (8%) 8,600 (38%) 700 (3%) 11,100 (49%)

Total 3,700 (16%) 17,900 (79%) 900 (4%) 22,500 (100%)

Source: U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission: NEISS. The estimates include cases for television,
furniture, and appliance product codes, as described in Appendix B. Estimates that are not statistically
reliable are presented as “–” (see Appendix A). Estimates are rounded to the nearest hundred and may not
add up to the total, due to rounding.

Considering the location of injury, 66 percent of the estimated 22,500 injuries of all ages
occurred in a residential location. Eight percent occurred in a public location, such as schools,
churches, daycare centers, offices, restaurants, nursing homes, stores, or parks, and 25 percent
happened in an unknown location. These percentages are somewhat similar for children (73
percent residential and 8 percent public) and adults (58 percent residential and 6 percent public),
but seniors (66 percent residential, and 14 percent public) had a higher percent of public
locations, which is probably due to nursing homes being coded as public locations.

The disposition of the ED-treated tip-over injuries show that most victims (95 percent of
children, 93 percent of adults, and 74 percent of seniors) were treated and released; however, 20
percent of the seniors were hospitalized.
27
Data were insufficient to test statistically for a difference in sex for senior television-only tip-over injuries.
28
The CVs for the given estimates (2018–2020) ranged from 0.0714 to 0.2310.

17
 The primary injury diagnoses,29 which are independent of the disposition of the patients,
were examined for children, adults, and seniors. Table 7 presents the breakdown of the
diagnoses (where available) for the different product categories and age groups. The most
common injury diagnosis was a contusion or abrasion for all age groups combined (6,800; 30
percent), and for each age group alone. Contusions and abrasions were also the most frequent
injury diagnoses for the furniture-related category for each age group. The next most prevalent
diagnoses of all age groups combined were internal organ injuries (3,500; 16 percent), fractures
(3,400; 15 percent), and lacerations (3,000; 13 percent). Children were diagnosed with internal
organ injuries at a higher rate than any other diagnosis, compared to adults and seniors, primarily
because of the many head injuries to children in tip-over incidents.

Table 7
Annual Average of Estimated ED-Treated Injuries Due to
Product Instability or Tip Overs by Diagnosis 2018–2020
Estimated ED-Treated Injuries 30 (Percent of Total Estimate)
Primary All Furniture (TV + Television,
Age Group
Diagnosis Television-Only Furn & Furn + Appl Furniture, and
& Furn-Only) Appliance Total
Children 600 (3%) 2,500 (11%) 3,200 (14%)
Contusions,
Adults – 2,200 (10%) 2,600 (12%)
Abrasions
Seniors – 800 (4%) 1,000 (5%)

Internal Organ Children 500 (2%) 1,500 (7%) 2,000 (9%)

Adults – 700 (3%) 900 (4%)
Injury
Seniors – 500 (2%) 700 (3%)
Children – 1,300 (6%) 1,400 (6%)
Lacerations Adults – 800 (4%) 1,000 (5%)
Seniors – 500 (2%) 500 (2%)
Children – 1,100 (5%) 1,300 (6%)
Fractures Adults – 1,000 (5%) 1,400 (6%)
Seniors – 500 (2%) 700 (3%)
Children – – –
Strains or
Adults – 500 (2%) 700 (3%)
Sprains
Seniors – – –
Children – 1,500 (7%) 1,800 (8%)
All Other
Adults – 1,500 (7%) 1,800 (8%)
Diagnoses
Seniors – 800 (3%) 1,000 (5%)

Total 3,700 (16%) 17,900 (79%) 22,500 (100%)

Source: U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission: NEISS. The estimates include cases for television,
furniture, and appliance product codes, as described in Appendix B. Appliance tip overs, not shown as a
separate column in the table, account for 4% of the total estimated injuries. Estimates that are not
statistically reliable are presented as “–” (see Appendix A). Estimates are rounded to the nearest hundred
and may not add up to the total, due to rounding.

29
Beginning in 2018 NEISS incidents, there are up to two diagnoses coded for each patient visit. For this report,
only the first diagnosis coded is used for estimates in Table 7, because the first diagnosis listed refers to the most
severe diagnosis resulting from the tip-over incident.
30
The CVs for the given estimates (2018–2020) ranged from 0.1187 to 0.2689.

18
 Table 8 presents the primary body parts injured in the ED-treated tip-over injuries. 31
About 1 in 5 (20 percent) of all estimated ED-treated tip-over injuries of all ages were head
injuries to children. Most injuries to children were head injuries (4,500 injuries), and injuries to
the legs, feet, and toes (3,000 injuries). Among the estimated annual 4,500 ED-treated injuries to
the head among children, 2,000 were diagnosed as internal organ injuries, 900 were contusions
or abrasions, 900 were lacerations, and the remaining injuries were other diagnoses. Most
injuries to adults were to the legs, feet, and toes (3,500 injuries), and to the arms, hands, and
fingers (1,800 injuries). Most injuries to seniors were to the legs, feet, and toes (1,300 injuries),
and head (1,300 injuries).

Table 8
Annual Average of Estimated ED-Treated Injuries Due to
Product Instability or Tip Overs by Area of Body 2018–2020
Estimated ED-Treated Injuries 32 (Percent of Total Estimate)
Primary Area of All Furniture (TV + Television,
Body Affected Age Group Television-Only Furn & Furn + Appl Furniture, and
& Furn-Only) Appliance Total
Children 1,000 (4%) 3,400 (15%) 4,500 (20%)
Head Adults – 1,300 (6%) 1,600 (7%)
Seniors – 1,000 (4%) 1,300 (6%)
Children 500 (2%) 2,400 (11%) 3,000 (13%)
Legs, Feet, and
Adults – 3,000 (13%) 3,500 (16%)
Toes (Legs)
Seniors – 1,100 (5%) 1,300 (6%)
Children – 1,200 (5%) 1,400 (6%)
Arms, Hands, and
Adults – 1,300 (6%) 1,800 (8%)
Fingers (Arms)
Seniors – 400 (2%) 600 (2%)
Children – 700 (3%) 800 (4%)
Torso Adults – 1,100 (5%) 1,300 (6%)
Seniors – 600 (2%) 800 (3%)
Children – – –
All Other Body
Adults – – –
Parts
Seniors – – –

Total 3,700 (16%) 17,900 (79%) 22,500 (100%)

Source: U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission: NEISS. The estimates include cases for television,
furniture, and appliance product codes, as described in Appendix B. Appliance tip overs, not shown as a
separate column in the table, account for 4% of the total estimated injuries. Estimates that are not
statistically reliable are presented as “–” (see Appendix A). Estimates are rounded to the nearest hundred
and may not add up to the total, due to rounding.

31
Beginning in 2018 NEISS incidents, there are up to two body parts coded for each patient visit. For this report,
only the first body part coded is used for estimates in Table 8, because the first body part coded corresponds to the
more severe and first coded diagnosis resulting from the tip-over incident.
32
The CVs for the given estimates (2018–2020) ranged from 0.0947 to 0.2683.

19
 NEISS data include variables called Race, RaceOth, and Hispanic, which record
information about the race or ethnicity of ED-treated patients. These three variables were used
when designating race/ethnicity categories for each patient. This resulted in five categories used
for analysis on race/ethnicity in this report: (1) non-Hispanic Black or African American (Black),
(2) Hispanic (all races) (Hispanic), (3) non-Hispanic White (White), (4) all other patients with
known races/ethnicities or who identify as Multiracial (Other), and (5) patients with an unknown
race/ethnicity. For the remainder of the injury section of this report, these category names (i.e.,
Black, Hispanic, White, and Other) are used to refer to the above-described groups. This
specific grouping aligns with the population data grouping presented by the U.S. Census Bureau.
Please refer to Appendix A for more detail about the race/ethnicity variables, and the methods
used to categorize patients by the three NEISS coded race/ethnicity variables.

As of the writing of this report, the Hispanic ethnicity variable has only been completely
recorded for NEISS years 2019 and 2020. Therefore, analysis concerning race/ethnicity for the
annual average estimated number of ED-treated tip-over injuries is based on the years 2019 and
2020. Estimates of tip-over injuries involving races/ethnicities other than Black, Hispanic, or
White are not statistically reliable, and hence, not presented.

From 2019 through 2020, out of the estimated annual average of 20,300 tip-over injuries
to all ages, 6,100 (30 percent) were to patients with an unknown race/ethnicity, and 14,200 (70
percent) were to patients with a known race/ethnicity. From 2019 through 2020, 32 percent
(2,900 injuries) of tip-over injuries to children, 25 percent (1,800 injuries) of tip-over injuries to
adults, and 35 percent (1,300 injuries) of tip-over injuries to seniors were patients with an
unknown race/ethnicity. To make comparisons, based on race/ethnicity, between the proportions
of people in the U.S. population and the proportions of the estimated numbers of tip-over injuries
by race/ethnicity, all injuries where the race/ethnicity of the patient is unknown is not reported in
Table 9. Note that by excluding the 30 percent of injured people with an unknown race/ethnicity
from analysis in Table 9 may mean that the percentages of injuries in the known race/ethnicity
groups may misrepresent the proportions of the U.S. population in each group that was injured.

Table 9 presents the proportion of the estimated annual average number of ED-treated
tip-over injuries by race/ethnicity to patients with a known race/ethnicity, as well as the
estimated annual average proportions of the U.S. population in parentheses,33 by age group and
race/ethnicity, from the years 2019 through 2020. The proportionate number of people of each
race/ethnicity in the U.S. population can be compared with the proportion of the estimated
number of ED-treated tip-over injuries for each age group by race/ethnicity category.

33
The U.S. population estimate for each age group is an average of 2019–2020 data of that age group, from the
month of July from each year, from the “Monthly National Population Estimates by Age, Sex, Race, Hispanic
Origin, and Population Universe for the United States: April 1, 2010 to December 1, 2020 (with short-term
projections to December 2021)” file in the U.S. Census data found at: https://www.census.gov/programs-
surveys/popest/technical-documentation/research/evaluation-estimates/2020-evaluation-estimates/2010s-national-
detail.html.

20
 Table 9
Proportion of Product Instability or Tip-Over-Related Estimated ED-Treated Injuries and the
Annual Average Estimated Proportions of the U.S. Population by Race/Ethnicity and Age Group
2019–2020
Proportion of Estimated ED-Treated Injuries 34
Race / Ethnicity (Annual Average Estimated Proportions of the U.S. Population) by Race/Ethnicity and Age Group
Children (<1 to 17 years) Adults (18 to 59 years) Seniors (>60 years) All Ages Total

White,
61% (50%) 50% (58%) 86% (75%) 60% (60%)
Non-Hispanic*

Black /
African American, 18% (14%) 36% (13%) – (10%) 24% (13%)
Non-Hispanic*

Hispanic
19% (26%) – (20%) – (9%) 13% (19%)
(Any Race)

Other 35 – (11%) – (9%) – (6%) – (9%)

Total 100% (100%) 100% (100%) 100% (100%) 100% (100%)

Source: U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission: NEISS. The estimates include cases for television,
furniture, and appliance product codes, as described in Appendix B. All injuries where the race/ethnicity
of the patient is unknown is not reported. Estimates that are not statistically reliable are presented as “–”
(see Appendix A). Estimates are rounded to the nearest percent and may not add up to the total, due to
rounding. Asterisks (*) indicate Race/Ethnicity designations are for reported single race only.

From 2019 through 2020, of the patients categorized as White, compared to the
proportion of the U.S. population categorized as White, there are:
• proportionately more White children injured (61 percent of injuries to 50 percent in the
population);
• proportionately fewer White adults injured (50 percent of injuries to 58 percent in the
population); and
• proportionately more White seniors injured (86 percent of injuries to 75 percent in the
population).

From 2019 through 2020, of the patients categorized as Black, compared to the
proportion of the U.S. population categorized as Black,36 there are:
• proportionately slightly more Black children injured (18 percent of injuries to 14 percent
in the population); and
• proportionately more Black adults injured (36 percent of injuries to 13 percent in the
population).

34
The CVs for the given estimates (2019–2020) ranged from 0.1117 to 0.2676.
35
The Other category includes the proportion of the U.S. population that are not counted among the non-Hispanic
Black, Hispanic, or non-Hispanic White people in U.S. Census figures.
36 Non-Hispanic Black people make up 13 percent of the U.S. population and make up 32 percent of all television-

related tip-over injuries (Television-Only + Television and Furniture falling) among patients where race/ethnicity is
known.

21
 From 2019 through 2020, of the patients categorized as Hispanic, compared to the
proportion of the U.S. population categorized as Hispanic, there are proportionately fewer
Hispanic children injured (19 percent of injuries to 26 percent in the population).

Reported Fatalities 37

Between 2000 and 2020, CPSC staff has received 581 reports of product instability or
tip-over-related fatalities that were related to a television, furniture, or an appliance. The criteria
for determining the in-scope cases are presented in Appendix B. Of these 581 reported fatalities,
184 deaths (32 percent) involved only a television falling, 174 deaths (30 percent) involved
both a television falling and the furniture in/on which the television was resting also falling,
181 deaths (31 percent) involved only furniture falling, and 42 deaths (7 percent) involved
only an appliance falling. Considering all deaths in which a television fell (television-only +
television and furniture), there were 358 deaths (62 percent). Considering all deaths in which
furniture fell (furniture-only + television and furniture), there were 355 deaths (61 percent).
There were no deaths in which both furniture and an appliance fell.

Some differences are apparent between the numbers and classifications of fatalities in this
report when compared with fatalities reported in past annual reports. The reason is two-fold;
since the earlier publications, CPSC has received new reports of tip-over fatalities that occurred
between 2000 and 2019, and CPSC has received additional information on some of the tip-over
fatalities that appeared in past reports. This has necessitated re-evaluation of previous fatality
categorizations for better consistency of the data. The details of these changes are provided in
Appendix A.

37
Reported fatalities come from the CPSRMS, an epidemiological database that houses all anecdotal reports of
incidents received by CPSC, “external cause”-based death certificates purchased by CPSC, all in-depth
investigations of these anecdotal reports, as well as investigations of select NEISS injuries. Examples of documents
in CPSRMS include: hotline reports, Internet reports, news reports, medical examiner’s reports, death certificates,
retailer/manufacturer reports, and documents sent by state/local authorities, among others. Fatality counts should be
considered incomplete for years 2019–2020, due to a time lag in reporting to CPSC.
22
 Table 10 presents the reported instability or tip-over-related fatalities for televisions,
furniture, and appliances by year of death. While data reporting is ongoing, especially for 2019
through 2020, it appears that the number of fatalities reported involving the furniture-only and
appliance-only categories have not decreased in the most recent years, when compared to years
dating back to 2000. Meanwhile, although it appears that the television-related categories are
showing lower numbers in the more recent years 2016 through 2018, when compared to the
previous decade of reporting, there have still been at least 3 fatalities reported involving a
television in each of the past 2 years, 2019 and 2020, and reporting for these years is ongoing.

Table 10
Product Instability or Tip-Over-Related Fatalities Reported to CPSC by Year 2000–2020 38
Television,
Appliance- Percent of Total
Year Television-Only 39 TV + Furniture Furniture-Only Furniture, and
Only (n = 581)
Appliance Total
2020* 3 0 3 1 7 1%
2019* 3 0 6 1 10 2%
2018 4 2 4 4 14 2%
2017 3 8 8 2 21 4%
2016 4 9 15 1 29 5%
2015 7 7 10 2 26 4%
2014 13 12 17 1 43 7%
2013 11 12 10 2 35 6%
2012 17 20 7 2 46 8%
2011 20 19 12 1 52 9%
2010 16 6 7 4 33 6%
2009 8 13 7 1 29 5%
2008 17 12 8 0 37 6%
2007 9 16 10 0 35 6%
2006 12 8 5 3 28 5%
2005 7 11 9 1 28 5%
2004 9 2 12 1 24 4%
2003 8 2 5 5 20 3%
2002 4 6 8 3 21 4%
2001 6 5 16 5 32 6%
2000 3 4 2 2 11 2%
Product
184 174 181 42 581 100%
Category Total
Percent of Total
32% 30% 31% 7% 100%
(n = 581)
Source: CPSC databases, including NEISS and CPSRMS. Asterisks (*) indicate ongoing reporting.

Like the NEISS injuries, the reported fatalities have been separated into three distinct age
categories: children (younger than 18 years of age); adults (ages 18 to 59 years); and seniors (60
years of age or older).

38
There are no deaths involving both furniture and an appliance tipping over.
39
There are no computer monitor-related fatalities among the television fatality counts.

23
 Figure 2 presents the number of reported tip-over fatalities by sex and product category,
among the different age groups. Of the 581 tip-over fatalities, 472 (81 percent) were children, 89
(15 percent) seniors, and the remaining 20 (3 percent) were adults.

Among the 472 child fatalities, 167 (35 percent) involved only a television falling, 170
(36 percent) involved both a television falling and the furniture in/on which the television was
resting also falling, 117 (25 percent) involved only furniture falling, and 18 (4 percent)
involved only an appliance falling.

Of the 167 child fatalities involving only a television falling, there does not appear to be a
stark difference when comparing sexes; there were 91 female fatalities (54 percent), and 76 male
fatalities (46 percent). The 287 fatalities involving children and furniture (with or without a
television also falling) suggest differences based on sex. Of the 117 child fatalities involving
only furniture, 71 were male (61 percent) and 46 were female (39 percent), and of the 170 child
fatalities involving both a television and furniture falling, 99 were male (58 percent) and 71 were
female (42 percent). It is harder to examine differences based on sex for the adult and senior
groups, due to small counts.

Figure 2
Product Instability or Tip-Over-Related Fatalities Reported to CPSC
for Different Age Groups by Sex and Product Category 2000–2020

Children (n = 472) Adults (n = 20) Seniors (n = 89)

Male Female Male Female Male Female

120 120 120

99
Reported Fatalities

100 100 100

91

76 80 80
80 71 71

60 60 60
46
40 40 40 31
24
20 14 20 20 13
4 5 6 3 3 2 5 7 6
0 1 0 1 2
0 0 0

Product Category Product Category Product Category

Source: CPSC databases, including NEISS and CPSRMS.

24
 Among the 581 tip-over fatalities to all ages, 358 deaths (61 percent) involved
televisions. Of the 358 television-related tip-over deaths of all ages, 337 fatalities (94 percent)
were children; 15 fatalities (4 percent) were seniors; and 6 fatalities (2 percent) were adults.
Figure 3 presents the frequencies of reported television-related tip-over fatalities by television
and furniture type and victim age group.

Figure 3
Product Instability or Tip-Over-Related Fatalities Reported to CPSC
by Television and Furniture Type 40 2000–2020 41

All Ages: TV-Related (n = 358)

Children Adults Seniors
180 167
160
140
Reported Fatalities

120
102
100
80
60
42
40
20 12 11
5 1 0 0 0 0 3 5 0 0 3 0 0 3 0 0 1 0 0 1 0 0 1 0 0 1 0 0
0

Television + Furniture Type

Source: CPSC databases, including NEISS and CPSRMS.

40
Fatalities where it could not be determined if the furniture also tipped or fell are counted as only the television
falling.
41
The miscellaneous furniture is an antique phonograph cabinet.

25
 Among all chest, bureau, and dresser-related tip-over fatalities to all ages, with a
television (103 deaths) and without a television (115 deaths) also falling, there are 218 fatalities,
which make up 38 percent of all tip-over fatalities. Of the 218 chest, bureau, and dresser-related
tip-over fatalities, 189 (87 percent) involved children.

Among the 581 tip-over fatalities to all ages, 181 deaths (31 percent of all tip-over
fatalities) involved only furniture falling. Of these 181 deaths, 117 fatalities (65 percent) were
children; 55 fatalities (30 percent) were seniors; and 9 fatalities (5 percent) were adults. Figure
4 presents the frequencies for instability or tip-over deaths involving only furniture falling by
furniture type and victim age group. 42

Figure 4
Product Instability or Tip-Over-Related Fatalities Reported to CPSC
for Furniture-Only by Furniture Type 2000–2020 43

All Ages: Furniture-Only (n = 181)

Children Adults Seniors
100
87

80
Reported Fatalities

60

40

23
20
9 8 7 7
5 4 4 3
2 0 1 00 211 103 200 200 002 001 100 202 001
0

Furniture Type
Source: CPSC databases, including NEISS and CPSRMS.

42
The fatality where the furniture is unknown was described as either an armoire or a bookcase.
43
Miscellaneous furniture includes: two coat racks, a portable storage closet, and a room divider.

26
 The remaining 42 deaths (7 percent) of the 581 tip-over fatalities involved only an
appliance falling. Of these 42 deaths, 19 fatalities were seniors; 18 were children; and 5 were
adults. Figure 5 presents the frequencies of fatalities by appliance type and victim age group.

Figure 5
Product Instability or Tip-Over-Related Fatalities Reported to CPSC
for Appliances by Appliance Type 2000–2020

All Ages: Appliance-Only (n = 42)

Children Adults Seniors
20
17
Reported Fatalities

15
11
10 8

5 3
2
1
0 0 0
0
Stove/Oven Refrigerator Microwave
(67%) (31%) (2%)
Appliance Type

Source: CPSC databases, including NEISS and CPSRMS.

27
 Residential locations account for 521 (91 percent) of the 581 tip-over fatalities. Twenty-
four deaths (4 percent) occurred in public locations, and 26 deaths (5 percent) did not provide
enough information to determine the location. Fatalities to children had a similar distribution by
location (94 percent residential, 3 percent public, and 3 percent unknown). Figure 6 presents the
tip-over fatalities by location.

Figure 6
Product Instability or Tip-Over-Related Fatalities Reported to CPSC by Location 2000–2020 44

All Ages: All Tip-Overs (n = 581)

Children Adults Seniors
500
443
450

400

350
Reported Fatalities

300

250

200

150

100 70

50 17 15 10 14 9
0 3
0
Residential Public Unknown
(91%) (4%) (4%)
Injury Location

Source: CPSC databases, including NEISS and CPSRMS.

44
Public locations include nursing homes and assisted living facilities in both the NEISS injury estimates and in the
fatality section, which generally only affects the senior age group. Other public locations besides nursing homes
include: churches, daycare centers, hotels, schools, and stores.

28
 For the room where the incident occurred, the bedroom had the largest number of
fatalities, with 261 deaths (45 percent). This is followed by the living/family room, with 111
deaths (19 percent). There is also a large portion of cases in which the room location is unknown
(142 deaths: 24 percent). Of the 472 fatalities involving children, 237 deaths (50 percent)
occurred in bedrooms, and 105 deaths (22 percent) happened in living/family rooms. For adults
and seniors, there were many unknown room locations (11 fatalities, or 55 percent of adult
deaths, and 43 fatalities, or 48 percent of senior deaths). Figure 7 presents the tip-over fatalities
by room of incident and victim age group.

Figure 7
Product Instability or Tip-Over-Related Fatalities Reported to CPSC
by Room of Incident 2000–2020 45

All Ages: All Tip-Overs (n = 581)

Children Adults Seniors
250 237

200
Reported Fatalities

150

105
100 88

50 43

20 23
15 11 11
5 9
4 1 3 4 0 1 1
0
Bedroom Living/Family Kitchen Dining Room Miscellaneous Unknown
(45%) Room (5%) (1%) (6%) (24%)
(19%) Room of Incident
Source: CPSC databases, including NEISS and CPSRMS.

45
Some of the miscellaneous rooms include: hallways, playrooms, garages, home offices, spare/storage rooms,
daycare center rooms, and deaths in most public locations. Nursing home bedrooms, living/family, kitchen, and
dining rooms are not in the miscellaneous category.

29
 Figure 8 presents the frequencies of tip-over fatalities by manner of death. Most of the
fatalities were due to the victim being crushed 46 by the television, furniture, or appliance (321
deaths: 55 percent). This is followed by fatalities that were the result of positional asphyxia 47 (127
deaths; 22 percent), and fatalities due to being hit/struck48 (91 deaths; 16 percent) by product(s).
Crushing incidents accounted for the largest number of fatalities in children (276 fatalities, or 58
percent of children deaths), and seniors (40 fatalities, or 45 percent of senior deaths). Positional
asphyxia incidents accounted for the most adult deaths (9 fatalities, or 45 percent of adult deaths).

Figure 8
Product Instability or Tip-Over-Related Fatalities Reported to CPSC
by Manner of Death 2000–2020 49

All Ages: All Tip-Overs (n = 581)

Children Adults Seniors
300
276

250
Reported Fatalities

200

150

100 88
78

50 40
29 26
5 10 12 6
1 4 1 3 2
0
Crush Positional Asphyxia Hit/Struck Miscellaneous Unknown
(55%) (22%) (16%) (2%) (5%)
Injury Type

Source: CPSC databases, including NEISS and CPSRMS.

46
“Crushing” incidents are events in which it was clear that the product(s) fell on the victim and the victim remained
under the product(s).
47
“Positional Asphyxia” is a form of asphyxia that occurs when the body position prevents adequate oxygen supply
to the lungs, such as an upper airway obstruction or a limitation in chest wall expansion.
48
“Hit/Struck” injuries are events in which it was clear the product(s) fell on the victim but did not land and remain
on the victim.
49
Some of the miscellaneous injuries include: lacerations from broken glass tables, health complications resulting
from a tip over (heart attack or stroke, or broken bones from falls), burn injuries from tipped ovens, deaths caused by
items that were in/on the tipped over furniture, and competing risks of more than one of the other categories equally
contributing to the death.

30
 The head was the area of the body impacted most frequently in tip-over fatality incidents
with 338 deaths caused by injuries to the head-only (58 percent), and 39 fatalities to the head and
torso (7 percent). This is followed by the torso-only, with 140 deaths (24 percent). Damage to
the head was the predominant injury leading to death for children, compared to adults and
seniors, who had more torso injuries leading to death.

Of the 358 television-related tip-over deaths of all ages, including with and without
furniture also falling, 300 (84 percent) were due to only head injuries. Figure 9 presents
frequencies of fatalities by victim age group and body area injured.

Figure 9
Product Instability or Tip-Over-Related Fatalities Reported to CPSC
by Body Area Injured 2000–2020

All Ages: All Tip-Overs (n = 581)

Children Adults Seniors
350
318

300
Reported Fatalities

250

200

150
92
100

50 38 31
17 26
12 10
3 1 0 0 2 5 0 2 0 0 4 0 1 8 5 6
0

Primary Body Area Injured

Source: CPSC databases, including NEISS and CPSRMS.

31
 Frequencies and percentages by victim age category for the 472 fatalities involving
children are presented in Figure 10. While most decedents were between 1 month and 8 years of
age, one 14-year-old decedent died of complications arising from a tip-over incident that
happened when the victim was 2-years old, and one 9-year-old decedent died of complications
from a tip-over incident that happened when the victim was 1-year-old. Of the 472 fatalities
involving children, about two-thirds (315 deaths; 67 percent) were children at least 1 year of age
and less than 3½ years of age. The age used is the age at the time of death,50 which may differ
somewhat from the age at the time of the incident.

Figure 10
Product Instability or Tip-Over-Related Child Fatalities Reported to CPSC
by Victim Age at Time of Death 2000–2020

Children: All Tip-Overs (n = 472)

80 72
70 67 66
Reported Fatalities

58
60 52
50
40
30 29
30 26
20
20 14
10 5 7 5 5 5
2 3 4 2
0

Victim Age (in years)

Source: CPSC databases, including NEISS and CPSRMS.

50
In most cases, the age at the time of death is the same as the age at the time of incident. In a few cases, the ages
differed. In some cases, the age at the time of incident or time of death was not reported.

32
 Shown in Figure 11 are the 472 tip-over fatalities involving children divided into tip-over
item(s) categories for years 2000 through 2020. From 2013 through 2017, there have been
between 10 and 23 furniture-related tip-over fatalities to children each year, of which there have
been between 3 and 12 furniture-only tip-over deaths to children in each of those years. Notice
that there has been at least 1 child tip-over death involving an appliance reported to CPSC in
each year from 2009 through 2018, except the year 2012.

Figure 11
Product Instability or Tip-Over-Related Child Fatalities Reported to CPSC
by Product Category 2000–2020

Children: All Tip-Overs (n = 472)

50
1
45
9
40
4
Reported Fatalities

35
1
30
7 5 19 1
3 1 2 12 Appliance
25 2 19 5
5 3
7 5 11 1 1 Furniture-Only
20 6
14 16 12 6 10
1 11 (TV + Furniture)-Only
15 8 13
6 1 5 11 1
10 4 7 3 1 Television-Only
1 5 2 19
1 6 2 15 16 16 2
11 9 11 10 9 7
5 4 8 8 2 4
6 7 6 7
2 4 2 2 4 3 1
0
2019*
2020*
2000
2001
2002
2003
2004
2005
2006
2007
2008
2009
2010
2011
2012
2013
2014
2015
2016
2017
2018

Year

Source: CPSC databases, including NEISS and CPSRMS. Asterisks (*) indicate ongoing reporting.

For children, the hazard scenario of how the child or other children were interacting with
the tip-over product immediately before the tip-over incident were classified, where possible. 51
The scenarios for the 109 deaths involving adults and seniors did not have enough details, in
most cases, to be classified. Accordingly, Figure 12 presents frequencies of deaths for children.

Of the 472 deaths involving children, 129 (27 percent) had unknown hazard scenarios,
which commonly happened when the child was alone in a room when the incident took place,
leaving no eyewitness to observe the tip-over incident. In many of the unknown incident
scenarios, the victim could have been climbing on or applying force to the television, furniture,
or appliance that tipped over.

51
Scenario categories reflect the tip-over scenarios as precisely as possible with the available information.

33
 Among the 117 known scenarios involving children and only televisions, in 37 percent
(43 out of 117 fatalities) of deaths the victim or another child was climbing on the television,
furniture, or appliance, and in 63 percent (74 out of 117 fatalities) of deaths the victim or another
child was applying force in some manner other than climbing, such as hitting, pulling, or kicking
the tipped over product, or adjusting controls on a television or electronic device connected to
the television. Among the 212 known child furniture-related scenarios (furniture-only +
television and furniture), in 77 percent (164 out of 212 fatalities) of deaths the victim or another
child was climbing on the television or furniture, and in 22 percent (46 out of 212 fatalities) of
deaths the victim or another child was applying force in some manner other than climbing. The
2 Other known scenarios involved furniture with a television resting on top, and the furniture
spontaneously fell with no force exerted on the furniture or television prior to the tip-over
occurrence. Figure 12 presents the frequencies of child fatalities by hazard scenario.

Figure 12
Product Instability or Tip-Over-Related Child Fatalities Reported to CPSC by Scenario 2000–2020

Children: All Tip-Overs (n = 472)

100 94
90
80 74
Reported Fatalities

70
70
60 50
50 43 42 Appliance
40 32 33 Furniture-Only
30 (TV + Furniture)-Only
20 12 14
Television-Only
10 2 2 4
0 0 0
0
Climb Force Other Unknown
(46%) (26%) (<1%) (27%)
Hazard Scenario

Source: CPSC databases, including NEISS and CPSRMS.

For children’s deaths, the response time from when a tip-over incident occurred to the
time that a caregiver found the child, began administering aid, and alerted emergency personnel
were gleaned from the reports and classified, where possible. In the incidents where a caregiver
responded within 10 minutes, a caregiver found the victim and the tipped-over television,
furniture, or appliance within 10 minutes of the tip over occurring. Some examples include: a
caregiver witnessed or was in the room when the incident happened, a sibling or other child
witnessed the tip over and immediately alerted a caregiver, a caregiver heard the tip-over
incident and immediately investigated where the loud ‘bang’ was coming from and found the
victim, or a caregiver left the child alone for 10 minutes or less before finding the tip-over
incident. For incidents with a delayed response of more than 10 minutes, the child was left
unsupervised for at least 10 minutes before being found along with the tipped over television,
furniture, or appliance. Among these incidents, there was no indication that the tip-over incident

34
was heard, or a crash may have been heard but the loud ‘bang’ was not investigated immediately.
In some cases, the victim was left unsupervised for many hours, such as overnight, before being
found. For incidents with an unknown response time, incident scenarios were described by
mostly vague details. It is possible that incidents in the unknown category may have been
responded to immediately or after some lapse of time after a tip over occurred—the information
was not available from the reports.

Figure 13 presents the frequencies of child fatalities by response time after a tip over
occurred. Among the known response times involving television-related child fatalities
(including only a television, or a television and furniture), a caregiver responded within 10
minutes in 98 percent (280 out of 287 fatalities) of the fatalities, as compared to 53 percent (49
out of 93 fatalities) involving furniture-only tip overs. There was an unknown response time
after a tip over in 15 percent (50 out of 337 fatalities) of television-related fatalities and 21
percent (24 out of 117 fatalities) of furniture-only deaths.

Figure 13
Product Instability or Tip-Over-Related Child Fatalities Reported to CPSC
by Response Time After Tip-Over 2000–2020 52

Children: All Tip-Overs (n = 472)

160 151

140 129

120
Reported Fatalities

100

80 Appliance
Furniture-Only
60 49
44 (TV + Furniture)-Only
40 35
24 Television-Only
20 11 15
3 4 3 4
0
Responded Within 10 Responded in More Than Unknown (16%)
Minutes (72%) 10 Minutes (12%)
Response Time After Tip-Over

Source: CPSC databases, including NEISS and CPSRMS.

52
Precise time measurements are typically unavailable within the incident description (i.e., "I left for a few
minutes", or "He was gone for five to ten minutes"); data are categorized based on narrative response time estimates.

35
 Figure 14 presents the distribution of the tip-over fatalities for adults (18 to 59 years of
age) and seniors (60 years and older) by age ranges. Excluding the senior death to the victim
with an unknown age, among the 108 adult and senior tip-over deaths to people with a known
age, 34 fatalities (31 percent) were to seniors ages 85 years or older. Of the adult fatalities, 18
out of the 20 tip-over deaths occurred to adults ages 42 to 59 years old. Not shown in Figure 14,
there were either 1 or 2 adult fatalities in each year between 2010 and 2018, except for 2013 and
2015 where there were no adult deaths.

Figure 14
Product Instability or Tip-Over-Related Adult and Senior Fatalities Reported to CPSC
by Victim Age at Time of Death 2000–2020 53

Adults (n = 20) Seniors (n = 89)

25 25
21
20 20
Reported Fatalities

Reported Fatalities 15
15 15
12
11
10 10
10 10
6
5 5
5 4 4
5 3
1 1 1
0 0
0 0

Victim Age (in years) Victim Age (in years)

Source: CPSC databases, including NEISS and CPSRMS.

53
One decedent, described as an “elderly” woman, has been classified as a senior of unknown age.

36
 Figure 15 presents the 89 senior tip-over fatalities by tip-over item(s) for years 2000
through 2020. There were between 2 and 7 senior fatalities in each of these 21 years. In each of
the most recent 7 years of complete reporting, from 2012 to 2018, there were between 4 and 7
senior deaths reported, mostly due to furniture-only fatalities.

Figure 15
Product Instability or Tip-Over-Related Senior Fatalities Reported to CPSC
by Product Category 2000–2020

Seniors: All Tip-Overs (n = 89)

8

7
1 1
Reported Fatalities

6 2
1 1 1 1
5 2
1 1
4 2 2 Appliance
1
3 6 2 2 Television-Only
1 3 1 1 5 5 5 1
2 2 4 4 (TV + Furniture)-Only
1 1 3 3 Furniture-Only
1 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2
1 1 1 1
0

2019*
2020*
2000
2001
2002
2003
2004
2005
2006
2007
2008
2009
2010
2011
2012
2013
2014
2015
2016
2017
2018
Year

Source: CPSC databases, including NEISS and CPSRMS. Asterisks (*) indicate ongoing reporting.

37
 Appendix A

Methodology for Selecting Product Instability or Tip-Over Injuries and Fatalities

Associated with Televisions, Furniture, and Appliances

A multidisciplinary team of CPSC staff met to discuss terminology, the types of products
of interest, and types of product-associated instability or tip-over incidents that are to be
considered in-scope. For this report, the focus is on heavy objects that tip over and fall on an
individual usually due to some type of interaction, such as climbing or exerting a force, on the
object while it is in one of its positions of normal use. This interaction with the product results in
the center of gravity of the product changing. Staff considered incidents that involved the
furniture item tipping over, as well as incidents of instability with indications of impending tip
over. Tip-over incidents are a subset of product instability incidents and involve furniture items
falling over. Product instability incidents are a broader category that includes tip-over incidents
but may also include incidents where furniture items did not fully tip over. Staff considered
instability incidents relevant because product instability can lead to a tip over, and the same
factors, such as product design, can contribute to instability and tip overs.

Staff determined that televisions, furniture, and appliances listed in Appendix B have the
greatest risk of tipping over and potentially causing serious or fatal injuries. In examining the types
of products to include, staff considered the product’s potential to fall, and the product’s purpose,
size, location, and weight. The additional criterion of the potential interaction of the individual
with the product was also important. Generally, the focus is on furniture that: is large or heavy
and has the potential to cause serious injury or death; has a normal resting location and is rarely
moved from that normal resting location during day-to-day activity and is not usually meant to
be interacted with using excessive force. Products intended to be sat on or laid upon, such as
chairs, couches, and beds, were excluded, due to the emphasis on products that are not intended
to be frequently moved or interacted with using excessive force.

A television or an appliance falling in combination with the furniture (that it is resting in

or on) falling is counted only in the furniture category, when incidents are divided into
television, furniture, or appliance categories in this annual report. Generally, if furniture falls
while either a television or an appliance is resting in or on top of the furniture, then the television
or appliance is also going to fall. Using this logic, it makes sense to categorize these incidents by
putting them all into the furniture category, even though the injury or death scenario often is
caused by a person, usually a child, being drawn to interact with or interacting with a television
or appliance that is sitting atop or in free-standing furniture. In many instances, the television or
appliance that falls along with furniture is likely the primary cause of more severe injuries or
fatalities, rather than the furniture that fell as well. When the product falls on an individual, the
injuries typically involve crushing or compression.

The potential product codes were determined from furniture products associated with
televisions, furniture, and appliances that meet the criteria described above and in Appendix B.
Table 11 identifies the product codes used to extract the instability or tip-over incidents for
televisions, furniture, and appliances.

38
 Table 11
Potential Instability or Tip-Over Television, Furniture, and Appliance Product Codes 54
Product NEISS
Description
Category Product Code
Television 557 Computers (equipment and electronic games)
Television 572 Televisions
Furniture 519 Television tables or stands
Furniture 604 Desks, chests, bureaus, or buffets
Furniture 693 Footlockers
Furniture 709 Safes
Furniture 1260 Billiards or pool (activity, apparel, or equipment)
Furniture 1269 Table Tennis (activity, apparel, or equipment)
Furniture 1684 Carts, other, or not specified
Furniture 1726 Lockers
Furniture 4013 Other furniture
Furniture 4014 Furniture, not specified
Furniture 4056 Cabinets, racks, room dividers, and shelves
Furniture 4057 Tables (excl. baby changing tables, billiard tables, or pool tables)
Furniture 4065 Clocks, electric or battery operated
Furniture 4067 Clocks, not electric or battery operated or not specified
Appliance 101 Washing machines without wringers or other dryers
Appliance 102 Wringer washing machines
Appliance 106 Electric clothes dryers without washers
Appliance 107 Gas clothes dryers without washers
Appliance 126 Washing machines, not specified
Appliance 127 Clothes dryers, not specified
Appliance 135 Washer-Dryer combinations (within one frame)
Appliance 140 Washing machines, other or not specified
Appliance 259 Electric ranges (with ovens)
Appliance 260 Gas ranges (with ovens)
Appliance 263 Freezers (separate from refrigerators)
Appliance 264 Microwave ovens
Appliance 266 Ovens, not specified
Appliance 267 Other ranges (with ovens)
Appliance 273 Ranges, not specified
Appliance 276 Refrigerators
Appliance 278 Electric ranges or ovens (excl. counter-top ovens)
Appliance 279 Gas ranges or ovens
Appliance 280 Other ranges or ovens
Appliance 281 Ranges or ovens, not specified
Appliance 482 Appliances, other and not specified
Appliance 1821 Clotheslines or clothes drying racks (excluding poles)
Appliance 3233 Other grills or stoves

54
The source for product codes and descriptions is the NEISS Coding Manual (updated January 2021).

39
 After staff established the set of product codes, the next step was to determine the types
of scenarios to look for in the incident narratives. Narrative key word searches were not used
when extracting a potential set of data, because the narrative field descriptions have many
possible word choices, misspellings, and sentence structures. Additionally, narratives from
NEISS, medical examiner reports, and death certificates are often very terse and provide only
basic information. Consequently, the NEISS product codes listed in Table 11 and the incident
date range were the criteria used to extract the data sets; then, the narratives were examined,
along with other variables such as location of the tip-over incident, using very detailed heuristics,
to determine if an incident met the instability or tip-over criteria explained in Appendix B. In
Appendix B, additional details describe the products and conventions that are used to determine
in-scope cases, and some examples are also given to explain what products and which instability
or tip-over scenarios are considered in-scope.

NEISS data are based on a nationally representative probability sample consisting of

patient visits to about 100 hospitals in the United States and its territories. 55 The total number of
hospital emergency department visits nationwide in the United States are estimated from the
probability sample, as well as derivation of estimates for age groups, products, injury types,
disposition, and body parts for particular years, or combinations of these criteria, among others.
CPSC reports publish NEISS estimates provided the sample count is greater than 20, the national
estimate is greater than 1,200, and the coefficient of variation (CV) is not greater than 0.33.
However, if a 3-year total estimate meets the above criteria, even if the annual average estimate
fails, then those estimates are presented in the NEISS section of this report. This means an
estimated 3-year annual average of less than 400 injuries is not presented in this report. Because
the hospital reports in NEISS are unique, there are no duplicates.

The most recent injury estimates were based on 2020 NEISS data; this was merged with
data from last year’s report, which covered the years 2011 through 2019, resulting in the current
report covering the 2011 through 2020 reporting period. After careful consideration of scope
criteria (described in Appendix B), some incidents in the previous annual report were re-
evaluated to ensure that the criteria for inclusion were applied consistently. The changes that
followed are listed below:
• One incident that occurred in the year 2012 was omitted.
• One incident was moved from the “chest/bureau/dresser and television” category to the
“table and television” category.

Some product instability or tip-over-related injury victims survive the initial impact but
succumb to their injuries while being treated in an emergency department. In the NEISS data
from 2011 through 2020, there are 12 such injuries which resulted in death after the victim was
sent to and treated in the emergency department. These 12 deaths have been included in the
calculation of the national injury estimates for 2011 through 2020, and in the fatality analysis
presented in this report. Of these 12 deaths, 2 occurred between 2018 and 2020, and are part of
3-year annual averages throughout the injury section. There are another 9 NEISS deaths that
occurred between 2000 and 2010, which appear in the fatality section.

55
NEISS data can be accessed from the CPSC webpage under the “Access NEISS” link at:
https://www.cpsc.gov/Research--Statistics/NEISS-Injury-Data.

40
 Fatality data were extracted on July 1, 2021, from the NEISS and the CPSRMS
(Consumer Product Safety Risk Management System) for instability or tip-over fatalities
involving the television, furniture, and appliance product codes listed in Table 11, covering
deaths occurring in the years 2000 through 2020. Data collected in 2021 were merged with the
data used in the last annual report (extracted July 1, 2020). It should be noted that, for a given
year, incidents are received on an ongoing basis, and there is commonly a lag of about 2 years
between when many fatalities occur and when they are first reported to CPSC. For this report,
fatality counts should be considered incomplete for years 2019 and 2020. Additionally, it is not
uncommon that multiple reports about a single fatality are received in the CPSRMS, therefore
source documents are carefully checked to eliminate duplicate incident reports. As fatal
incidents are notable events in the community where they occur, often there are multiple news
reports, a medical examiner’s report, a death certificate, an in-depth investigation initiated by
CPSC staff, and less frequently, a NEISS report. Reports come from various types of sources,
including newspaper clippings, consumer complaints, and reports from other government
agencies, such as medical examiners/coroners. Accordingly, CPSRMS data is anecdotal and
represents at least a minimum for all fatalities that have occurred nationwide. Once the fatality
data set is established, the incidents are examined to code additional scenario characteristics,
such as: victim age, furniture type, incident location, injury type, and response time. Public
locations include nursing homes and assisted living facilities in both the NEISS injury estimates
and in the fatality section, which generally only affects the senior age group.

For this report, CPSC has received new reports of tip-over fatalities that occurred
between 2018 and 2019, and has received additional information on some of the tip-over
fatalities that appeared in past reports. This has necessitated re-evaluation of previous fatality
categorizations for better consistency of the data. Following the re-evaluation, no changes were
made to the fatality statistics presented in the 2020 report.

Fatalities in this report are reported as counts from CPSC data, and injury estimates are
rounded to the nearest hundred. Injury estimate category percentages were based on the
category-weighted estimates before rounding; fatality category percentages were based on the
category counts observed.

Race and Ethnicity Variables and Specifications

Among the NEISS data are three variables: “Race,” “RaceOth,” and “Hispanic,” which
record information about the race or ethnicity of ED-treated patients. This information is
provided by the patient. Every NEISS patient has been coded for Race, and potentially coded for
RaceOth for elaboration purposes, since at least the year 2006. The Hispanic variable has been
recorded for all NEISS patients seen since July 1, 2018, so as of the writing of this report, the
most recent complete year of reporting for this variable is 2019. Therefore, analysis concerning
race/ethnicity for the annual average estimated number of ED-treated tip-over injuries is based
on the NEISS data from the years 2019 and 2020. A combination of the variables Race,
RaceOth, and Hispanic is needed to estimate the proportion of tip-over injuries of Hispanic
heritage among all tip-over injuries; this proportion may be compared to proportions of other
races/ethnicities regarding tip-over injury estimates. Within the January 2021 NEISS coding
manual are descriptions of these race/ethnicity variables.

41
From January 2021 NEISS Coding Manual 56

Hispanic?
(1 character)

If the ED Record … Then Code

indicates the patient is a person of Hispanic, Latino/Latina, or Spanish 1-Yes
origin.
indicates the patient is not a person of Hispanic, Latino/Latina, or 2-No
Spanish origin.
does not indicate whether the patient is of Hispanic, Latino/Latina, or 0-Unknown
Spanish origin.

Race
(1 character)

Definition Code Race

A person having origins in any of the original peoples of Europe, 1-White
the Middle East, or North Africa.
A person having origins in any of the black racial groups of Africa. 2-Black/African American

Use this code when: (1) the ED record indicates more than one 3-Other (then enter race
race (e.g., multiracial, biracial), or (2) the race is stated in the ED specified by ED record in
record and none of the above applies. the Race Other field)
A person having origins in any of the original peoples of the Far 4-Asian
East, Southeast Asia, or the Indian subcontinent.
A person having origins in any of the original peoples of North 5-American
and South America (including Central America), and who Indian/Alaska Native
maintains tribal affiliation or community attachment.
A person having origins in any of the original peoples of Hawaii, 6-Native
Guam, Samoa, or other Pacific Islands. Hawaiian/Pacific Islander
Use this code when there is no information in the ED record. 0-Not stated

The January 2021 NEISS coding manual can be found at: https://www.cpsc.gov/s3fs-public/January-2021-NT-
56

CPSC-only-NEISS-Coding-Manual.pdf?xa_nMM1kB4SGpuSMOwf0NHkkkIqNcn8F.

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 Table 12 presents how NEISS patients were categorized by race/ethnicity in this report
based on the three race/ethnicity variables: Hispanic, RaceOth, and Race.

Table 12
NEISS Patient Race/Ethnicity Categorization
NEISS Coded Variables Coded in this Report
Race/Ethnicity
Hispanic RaceOth 57
Race 58
Category
1 - White Hispanic (Any Race)
Indicates Hispanic 2 - Black/African American Hispanic (Any Race)
Heritage 3, 4, 5, 6 - Other Races Hispanic (Any Race)
0 - Unknown Hispanic (Any Race)
1 - Yes
1 - White Hispanic (Any Race)
Does not Indicate 2 - Black/African American Hispanic (Any Race)
Hispanic Heritage 3, 4, 5, 6 - Other Races Hispanic (Any Race)
0 - Unknown Hispanic (Any Race)
1 - White Hispanic (Any Race)
Indicates Hispanic 2 - Black/African American Hispanic (Any Race)
Heritage 3, 4, 5, 6 - Other Races Hispanic (Any Race)
0 - Unknown Hispanic (Any Race)
1 - White White, Non-Hispanic
2 - No Black/African American,
2 - Black/African American
Non-Hispanic
Does not Indicate Unknown (not included
3 - Other (Unspecified Race) 59
Hispanic Heritage in Table 9)
3, 4, 5, 6 - Other Specified Races Other
Unknown (not included
0 - Unknown
in Table 9)
1 - White Hispanic (Any Race)
Indicates Hispanic 2 - Black/African American Hispanic (Any Race)
Heritage 3, 4, 5, 6 - Other Races Hispanic (Any Race)
0 - Unknown Hispanic (Any Race)
1 - White White, Non-Hispanic
Black/African American,
3 - Unknown 2 - Black/African American
Non-Hispanic
Does not Indicate Unknown (not included
Hispanic Heritage 3 - Other (Unspecified Race)
in Table 9)
3, 4, 5, 6 - Other Specified Races Other
Unknown (not included
0 - Unknown
in Table 9)
Source: U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission: NEISS.

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Some examples of responses recorded in the variable “RaceOth” that indicate Hispanic heritage are: “Hispanic,”
“Hisp,” “Hist,” “H,” “Latino,” “Mexican,” and “Spanish.”
58
Race variable coding, January 2021 NEISS Coding Manual (above).
59
In cases in which a patient has Race coded as 3 (Other), Hispanic coded as either 2 (No) or 0 (Unknown), and: (1)
RaceOth is coded as a variation of: ‘other’, ‘not specified’, or ‘unknown’, then the patient is categorized in the
Unknown category in this report and is not included in analysis in Table 9; and (2) if any race/ethnicity is specified
in the RaceOth variable, including “Biracial” and “Multiracial”, then the patient is categorized in the Other category.

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 Patients with no known information about race/ethnicity from the three race/ethnicity
variables are not reported in Table 9, so that proportions of the estimated number of tip-over
injuries of known race/ethnicity patients can be compared to the race/ethnicity proportions seen
in the U.S. population.

Appendix B

Conventions for Determining In-Scope Incidents

NEISS incidents often have a terse narrative; accordingly, staff used a more stringent set
of rules when examining this NEISS set of potential instability or tip-over incidents compared to
fatalities extracted from the other CPSC epidemiological database (CPSRMS). The included
instability or tip-over incidents generally use such words to describe the incident: fall/fell
on/over, tilted/tipped forward, tilted/tipped over, began to tip, tipped, and unstable/wobbly with
additional indications of an impending fall. Excluded are incidents described using the following
words: break, collapse, fell apart, flimsy, shaky, unstable, or wobbly with no additional
indications of tipping or falling. This appendix lists the types of products and incident scenarios
included in the NEISS and fatality instability or tip-over incidents associated with televisions,
furniture, and appliances. To maintain the consistency of data, some reclassifications compared
with past reports may not be apparent, due to rounding.

Unstable items included in the counts:

1. Furniture:
a. Armoire
b. Bookcase
c. Bureau
d. Cabinet (Exclude: kitchen and medicine)
e. Cart (Include only: microwave and TV)
f. Chest (Exclude: jewelry and falling off shelf)
g. Cupboard
h. Desk (Exclude: at schools)
i. Display case (Include only: in-home locations)
j. Dresser
k. Clocks, long case (Exclude: all other clocks)
l. Game Tables (Include only: “game table”, ping pong, and pool)
m. Locker (Include only: in-home locations)
n. Pedestal
o. Plant stand
p. Rack (Include only: coat rack)
q. Room divider
r. Safe (Exclude: falling off shelf)
s. Safety strap (Include: tethering in-scope items to a wall)
(Exclude: mounting items on a wall)
t. Shelf (Exclude: in closets and in stores)
u. Stand (Include only: microwave, night, and TV)

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 v. Table (Include: picnic and folding tables)
(Exclude: TV tray tables)
w. Vanity
x. Wall unit
y. Wardrobe

2. Appliances:
a. Dryer
b. Freezer
c. Microwave
d. Refrigerator (Include: mini fridge)
e. Stove/Oven
f. Washing machine

Note: If the type of furniture or appliance is not specified in the narrative, then the incident is not
included. Examples include the item that caused the injury being described by only the terms
“furniture” or “appliance” in the narrative.

3. Electronics:
a. Computer screen/monitor (Exclude: “computer” and laptop)
b. Television

Note: All other electronics are not included in the count.

4. Locations:
a. Store (Exclude: cart, display case, rack, and shelf)
b. School (Exclude: desk and locker)
c. Other public locations (Exclude: locker)

5. Sample scenarios that involved an injury:

a. “tried to catch”
Ex: The patient tried to catch a falling TV and injured foot.
Ex: While at school the patient tried to stop a room divider from falling over and
injured head.
b. “found under” (Exclude: desk and table)
Ex: Mom heard a loud crash, and she found her son lying under a dresser.
c. “pulled on self”
Ex: The infant pulled a TV down onto herself.
Ex: Grandma started to fall when she pulled a dresser onto herself to try to keep
her balance.
d. “drop” or “move”
Ex: If a child 9 years old or younger “drops” or attempts to “move” an in-scope
television, furniture, or appliance item by her/himself and the item tips over,
causing the child to die or to seek hospital treatment, then the incident is counted

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 as a tip-over incident. Any incident involving a person 10 years old or older who
“drops” or attempts to “move” an in-scope item is not considered a tip-over
incident for this report.

Note: These incident types are counted when a narrative implies an instability or tip-over
incident occurred and is the reason for the hospital visit.
Unstable items not included in the counts:

1. Falls of wall-mounted televisions/appliances are excluded. Furniture that is tethered or

secured to the wall for the purpose of preventing a tip-over incident is included.

2. Ambiguity in the narrative:

a. What is the item that fell?
Ex: The patient was sitting next to an unstable table while leaning back in her
chair when it fell over and landed on her.
(It is unclear if ‘it’ refers to the table or the chair.)
b. Which event caused the patient to seek treatment at the hospital?
Ex: The patient has a skull fracture. Either the patient bumped his head on a
cabinet today, or yesterday a TV fell off a dresser onto his head.
(It is unclear for which incident the patient is being treated at the hospital.)

3. Action verbs alone that do not describe instability, such as assemble, brake, collapse,
drop, fix, hit, struck, and move.

4. Components of furniture such as a door, drawer, handle, knob, panel, table leaf, and
tabletop.

5. Furniture intended to be sat upon or laid on, such as a bed, bench, bleacher, chair, couch,
futon, glider, love seat, recliner, and seat.

6. Appliance (examples): air conditioner, blender, boiler, broiler, crock pot, fan, food
processor, fryer, heater (electric or gas), rice cooker, stove hood/fan, toaster, toaster oven,
trash compactor, and vacuum.

7. Electronics (examples): cable box, DVD/VCR player, video game system, radio, and
speaker.

8. Storage furniture (examples): barrel, box, cage, cans, case, container, crate, hutch, tank,
and trunk.

9. Other household items(examples): all baby furniture, all power tools, aquarium, book,
candle, candleholder, figurine, fireplace, mantel, mirror, newspaper box, pan, podium,
pot, railing, skillet, slot machine, statue, toolbox, TV tray table, vase, and yard
compactor.

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