Stay safe on Super Sunday

We've commented more than once on the tip-over risks posed by heavy furniture and televisions. And the danger from tipping televisions has only grown, as Americans have purchased ever larger TVs in recent years. Indeed, we can bet that a lot more big TVs will be purchased between now and Sunday in time for the Super Bowl, an event that draws in as many as 90 million viewers. Indeed, the smallest TV reviewed in our latest issue is 26 inches, while the biggest is over 60 inches.  And despite their svelte profiles, most flat-screen sets larger than 42 inches weigh more than 100 pounds, regardless of the technology used; that makes them as heavy as the 30-inch or smaller tube TVs they replace. While the modern, flatter sets don't have the low center of gravity that makes tube sets more tip-prone, they may suffer from another risk factor: old furniture that isn't designed to handle such a large set. The right furniture — and the right installation — can make the difference between a TV that can hold up to a linebacker's advances and one that collapses after the first place kick. So, do yourself — and your kids — a favor: Before you put out the chips and salsa, follow this advice to make sure that the only things flying in your living room this Sunday are those long snaps on the screen.

• If available, buy a stand specifically designed for your TV by the manufacturer, as well as any hardware to secure the TV to the stand or wall.
• If you put your TV on other furniture, make sure it’s sturdy before you put the TV on it, and that it can handle the TV’s weight. 
• Never put a large TV on a stand or entertainment center designed for a smaller set.
• Furniture holding a TV should be anchored to the floor or wall using brackets, screws, or braces.
• Do not put a TV on furniture with drawers -- such as dressers or chests -- that can be pulled out by young children and used to climb.

More tips from ConsumerReports.org are available here.