I Misspoke - Your Television IS Lethal

I know the other day I kind of made fun of the researcher who wanted to assure us that our televisions were not lethal "in and of themselves." You might die earlier because of all the sitting still, he said, but the tv itself won't kill you.

Turns out, he was wrong.

According to that bastion of journalism and British consumer safety (The Midsussex Times), your tv might just kill you. Or your child. Or, by extenstion (they don't actually say this), a small animal.

"The Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents (RoSPA) has highlighted a US study that estimated that 8,000 children in the US are injured by televisions every year." (Thanks Robyn for forwarding me this article: http://www.midsussextimes.co.uk/nhshealth/39Make-TVs-safe39-says-charity.5911619.jp )

First of all, I have a large British contingent reading this blog . . . there is a royal society for the prevention of accidents? Really? I have to do some research - is there a US equivalent . . . perhaps the presidential committee for the prevention of falling? the senate judiciary committee with responsibility for the oversight of stubbed toes?

"How common are these incidents in the UK?" the article continues on. "The RoSPA states that it is aware of four cases in the UK since July 2008 in which children under the age of four have been killed by a television falling on them."

I guess now that televisions are as big as pool tables, a toppling tube could wreak some serious damage on a small animal or child.

So, I declare today, Friday January 15th, 2010, television safety day. And I plead with you, fasten down those child-killers! Or take a moment and anchor your 127" 5400p beasts to the foundation of your home!

Or maybe just get rid of your television.

Have a great weekend.