I want to tell you about a man who wears pink nail polish on his pinky finger. His name is Scott Deming. He's an international speaker, an author, and a Buffalo Bills fan. But that's not why he wears the pink nail polish. He wears pink nail polish on his pinky finger because it's a little different and he wants you to notice it. And then he wants you to ask about it. And when you do, he'll tell you about Amaya, his precocious, adorable 2-year-old granddaughter.
Amaya Deming
He'll beam when he describes Amaya as calm and cuddly, and at the same time bounded with endless energy and curiosity. He'll smile when he says that Amaya loved animals and especially bugs - so much so that she earned the nickname "Buggy" from her father. He'll tell you that Amaya loved to paint her nails pink. Then, the smile will start to fade as the conversation switches to what happened to Amaya on September 11, 2012. That's when Amaya was getting ready to watch her favorite movie, Madagascar, on DVD. She used a cabinet drawer to climb up to put the DVD into the television. As she reached up, the weight of her body was enough to tip the TV and piece of furniture it was standing on. Both came toppling down and Amaya died instantly. Amaya's story is heartbreaking and Scott will tell you that not a day goes by without that feeling of sorrow and emptiness that comes from losing a child. But that's not why he's sharing his story. He shares it because he wants everyone to know that what happened to Amaya was completely preventable.
TV Tip-Over Accidents are Completely Preventable
Safe Kids Worldwide and SANUS are working together to spread the word as well. So this Father's Day, think pink nail polish and remember these few simple steps you can take to prevent TV and furniture tip-overs in your home.
- Assess the stability of the TVs in your home.
- Mount flat-screen TVs to the wall to prevent them from toppling off stands. Follow the manufacturer's instructions to ensure that you have a secure fit.
- If you have a large, heavy, old-style TV, place it on a low, stable piece of furniture. If you no longer use your CRT TV, consider recycling it. To find a location to safely and easily recycle unwanted TVs, go to GreenerGadgets. Here are some step-by-step tips to help.
- Use brackets, braces or wall straps to secure unstable or top-heavy furniture to the wall.
For more information on TV and furniture tip-overs, visit www.safekids.org.
Topics: Home Safety
