Next in our series of posts about new Charitocracy nominees, we have nominee Parents Against Tip-overs, nominated by donor mom2angel, a dear friend who was personally affected by this little-known hazard in the worst way imaginable for any parent. Parents Against Tip-overs (PAT) increase the awareness and prevention of TV and furniture tip-over injuries and deaths. You can find their web site here.
A few words on Charitocracy
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But as you may have heard, Charitocracy rides off into the sunset at the end of 2023. Regardless, keep voting each month until New Year's Eve. Our monthly grants will get bigger and bigger throughout the year!
About nominee Parents Against Tip-overs
SUPPORT. EDUCATE. CHANGE.
OUR MISSION
Our mission is to increase the awareness and prevention of TV and furniture tip-over injuries and deaths.
WHO WE ARE
Parents Against Tip-Overs (PAT) was originally founded in 2018 by a group of parents from across the nation who had all lost a child to a furniture tip-over incident. Following their personal tragedies, many of our founding parents had tried for years to educate the public on the importance of anchoring furniture to the wall, as well as advocate for stronger safety standards for clothing storage units. The progress that was made from these efforts was minimal and incredibly slow.
In 2008, the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission began reporting annual tip-over statistics. The CPSC reported 52 known tip-over fatalities in 2011, which was the peak year for tip-overs. By 2015, the CPSC launched their Anchor It! Campaign aimed to educate the public on the need for anchoring furniture. In the last decade, TV tip-overs fatalities have greatly diminished while furniture tip-overs remain a problem. Over 85% of furniture tip-over fatalities involve children, and thousands of children are sent to the ER every year from tip-over related injuries. In 2022, Parents Against Tip-Overs, Inc. became a 501(c)3 nonprofit organization, with the vision of becoming the top national resource for tip-over prevention.
STURDY ACT - BILL H.R.1314/S.3232
The STURDY Act would require the Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) to create a mandatory safety standard for all dressers and clothing storage units manufactured or sold in the U.S. Currently, there is no mandatory standard, and the existing voluntary standard is insufficient.
Contact your Senators and Representative today, and ask them to cosponsor this life-saving bill.
JAN SCHAKOWSKY & STURDY ACT
Congresswoman Jan Schakowsky introduced the Stop Tip-Overs of Unstable, Risky Dressers on Youth Act of 2021. Tipping furniture presents a serious risk of injury and death to children. Current voluntary furniture stability standards are inadequate, and unstable furniture continues to be a top hidden household hazard. Find out more.
So please visit the page of nominee Parents Against Tip-overs to vote for, like, or discuss this cause! And now please watch PAT parents describe how the STURDY Act could have saved their children's lives, and hundreds of others.