Warning: Several Ikea dressers and chests – a total of 29 million units – are being recalled today after being associated with multiple deaths and injuries to children.
The front-heavy furniture has a deadly record of tipping over onto small children. If you own one of the affected lines, you could be entitled to a refund or repair kit.
Here’s more information from ABC News:
At least six children have been crushed to death by toppling Ikea chests, prompting the voluntary recall of about 29 million chests and dressers sold by the popular retailer, the Consumer Product Safety Commission says.
Ikea and the CPSC tell ABC that at least 36 children have been injured by Ikea chests and dressers, which are prone to tip over when they aren’t anchored to the wall. The deaths — all children under the age of 4 — date back to 1989 and are as recent as this February, the CPSC said.
The company is offering a refund or repair kit for affected dressers, including the MALM and other styles, the CPSC said. Further details were not immediately available. Furniture manufactured between 2002 and 2016 will entitle customers to a full refund; consumers can receive a partial store credit for items manufactured before 2002.
Upon request, the company will send a crew to install the wall anchor for customers who don’t want to do it themselves, the CPSC said. In the meantime, the CPSC is encouraging consumers to store the dresser where children won’t have access to it. At least four of the deaths were the result of unanchored chests.
Please take a moment to protect your loved ones by securing or getting rid of the affected Ikea furniture.
According to the CPSC, every 24 minutes a child is injured, and one child dies every two weeks when a TV or furniture falls onto them.
Find out more about how to anchor your heavy furniture to protect against this preventable tragedy.
