Help Protect the Earth and your Family this Earth Day
To celebrate Earth Day (April 22), Safe Kids Worldwide and the Consumer Electronics Association (CEA)® are teaming up to teach families the importance of recycling older TVs. It is the perfect time to take this simple step to help protect the Earth and kids.
Together we are encouraging parents and caregivers to recycle heavier, box-style, cathode ray tube (CRT) televisions, which can be hazards for children if not placed on a low, stable piece of furniture.
If not properly secured, heavier CRT televisions can tip over and harm small children. In fact, every three weeks in the U.S. a child dies from a TV tipping over. But these incidents are preventable with a few simple steps.
You can recycle your TV at a designated location, where they will safely and effectively dispose of TVs without spreading harmful chemicals.
SPECIAL REPORT: RECYCLE YOUR TV
Why is it important to recycle your TV? This fun video will show you why this is something you’ll want to do to protect kids.
Recycle Old TVs to Prevent TV Tip-Overs
Here are three simple steps you can take to help keep kids safe in your home and improve the environment:
- Secure your TV. If you have an older TV, make sure you either secure it to a wall or place it on a low, stable piece of furniture that is appropriate for the TV’s size and weight.
- Recycle your TV. To find a location near your home that safely and easily recycles unwanted TVs, go to www.GreenerGadgets.org.
- If you’re replacing your CRT TV with a new TV, be sure your flat-panel TV is properly secured with a mount that has a safety certification by an independent laboratory (such as UL, CSA, ETL).
Why TV Safety is Important
Every three weeks a child in the U.S. dies from a television tipping over. Many of these tragedies are caused by heavier, box-style cathode ray tube (CRT) TVs that are not secure.
Here’s the problem: When new TVs are brought into homes, older CRT TVs are often moved to other rooms and placed on dressers or high furniture, where they may be used with game consoles, DVD players or VCRs.
Here’s what you need to do: Secure your flat-panel televisions to the wall using a mount or straps. If you have a CRT TV, place it on a low, stable piece of furniture. And if you no longer use your CRT TV, we recommend you remove it from your home entirely and recycle it.
