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Tipover TV accidents are on the rise nationally

Angelina Cook, 2, who was killed in an accident in her home in Coram when a television fell on her.

BY LAURA RIVERA | laura.rivera@newsday.com

7:51 PM EDT, March 25, 2008

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At just 2 years old, little Angelina Cook loved to rock her hips to the theme song of the TV show "SpongeBob SquarePants," her brown eyes glowing.

The Coram family's 25-inch television set was on last Friday night when it toppled off a cart that overturned and fatally injured the girl.

For Angelina's grandmother, Shirley Schmidt, it is still hard to fathom how, after childproofing cabinets and electrical outlets in her family's home, their "miracle baby" could have died as a result of a television tipping over.

"We had that place so baby-safe that it was even hard for us to open up a cabinet," said Schmidt, 53, whose daughter and granddaughter lived on a second-floor apartment in Schmidt's house. "They shook [the cart], they jiggled it, to make sure it was sturdy enough. ... We're devastated right now."

Tipover TV accidents are increasing in frequency in homes across the country, statistics show.

In 2006, at least 10 children under 5 died in cases involving televisions tipping over, according to the Consumer Product Safety Commission.

That's up from an average of six deaths a year -- 36 in all -- from 2000 to 2005, said Scott Wolfson, an agency spokesman. At least 3,000 children under 5 were treated at emergency rooms nationwide for injuries related to TV tipovers in 2005, he said.

"We are, tragically, seeing an increase," said Wolfson, whose agency launched a campaign in 2006 to educate parents on preventing television and furniture tipovers. "We know that a child's curiosity may lead them to try to climb or reach in a way that creates a very dangerous situation."

While the reason for the rise isn't clear, Wolfson said it may be related to the increasing size of TVs.

Last year, a 2-year-old Staten Island tot died after he apparently tried to climb onto a TV stand and a 32-inch set crushed him. Another Staten Island boy, 8, died in 2005 after a 19-inch set fell on him.

In Angelina's case, Suffolk police said it appeared the child was reaching for a remote on top of the set, though Schmidt said she did not know whether the baby had done so. Detectives are still investigating.

"She was a miracle baby," said her mother, Stephanie Riscen, 29, who had ovarian cancer when she was pregnant with Angelina and continues to battle the disease. "She came out perfect. ... She gave me the strength to live."

Angelina's father, Joe Cook, who lives in Florida, said Tuesday he was too grief-stricken to comment on the death.

Child safety advocates urge parents to use anchors to secure television sets to furniture or, if that's not possible, move the set as far back on the furniture as possible. Also, tie up long electrical cords and avoid putting toys or other tempting items on the TV or furniture.

"It's not only about smoke alarms and electrical outlet covers, but furniture can pose a risk, too," said Chrissy Cianflone, director of program operations at the Washington, D.C.-based nonprofit Safe Kids Worldwide.