Celebrating 10 Years of CPSC's Anchor It! Campaign Towards Safer Homes

CPSC's Anchor It! Campaign: A Decade of Safety

In July 2025, the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) is celebrating the 10th anniversary of its impactful Anchor It! campaign. Launched in 2015, this initiative has played a crucial role in addressing the perilous issue of furniture and TV tip-overs, which pose significant risks, especially to children. Over the past decade, the campaign has effectively reduced incidents of furniture tip-over injuries and fatalities by nearly 50% across the United States.

The Anchor It! campaign was sparked by the heartbreaking loss of children due to these incidents, leading to the collaboration between CPSC, industry partners, and advocacy groups, such as Parents Against Tip-Overs (PAT). The campaign aimed to educate parents and caregivers about the critical need to secure furniture to prevent tragic accidents. Through various channels, including informative video and radio Public Service Announcements, social media outreach, and journalism partnerships, the CPSC has disseminated essential safety information to communities nationwide.

One of the campaign's significant achievements is the implementation of a federal mandatory standard backed by the STURDY Act (Stop Tip-overs of Unstable, Risky Dressers on Youth). This law, enacted by Congress and enforced from September 2023, requires that clothing storage units like dressers are designed to meet stringent stability criteria, effectively enhancing consumer safety. The CPSC continues to work closely with furniture manufacturers and retailers to ensure non-compliant products are recalled and removed from the market.

Peter Feldman, Acting Chairman of the CPSC, reflects on the decade of progress: "CPSC has made great strides in the past 10 years to minimize these hazards and save lives. I am grateful for the work of our dedicated staff, safety advocates, and the American furniture industry, without whose collaboration none of this would be possible."

The partnership with Parents Against Tip-Overs has been pivotal in this campaign. Kimberly Amato, co-founder of PAT, emphasized the group's dedication to education as a means of prevention. She noted, "The parents who founded PAT came together after enduring personal tragedies to prevent other families from experiencing similar losses. Collaborating with CPSC to raise awareness about anchoring furniture has been vital in our shared goal of safeguarding children."

Important Safety Steps to Prevent Tip-Overs

The CPSC urges families to take proactive measures to protect their homes from furniture-related hazards:
1. Anchor TVs and heavy furniture like bookcases and dressers securely to the walls using safety straps or anchors.
2. If anchoring is not feasible, position TVs on stable, low furniture, ensuring they are pushed back as far as possible. Keep cords out of children's reach to eliminate climbing hazards.
3. Store appealing or lightweight items, such as toys and remote controls, on higher shelves to deter children from climbing. Place heavier items on lower shelves to reduce the risk of them tipping.

For added assurance, the Anchor It! campaign provides comprehensive guidance on its website, detailing three straightforward steps to install anchoring devices correctly. Additionally, the campaign has produced video testimonials from families affected by tip-over accidents, highlighting the real-world consequences of this issue.

Looking Forward

As the Anchor It! campaign enters its next decade, the CPSC remains committed to promoting safety and preventing furniture tip-over incidents. The campaign advocates not just for awareness, but also for actionable solutions that families can implement within their homes. Through continued education and collaboration with the community and industry, the CPSC aims to see a future where every household can enjoy a safer living space free from the horrifying risks associated with tip-overs.

For additional resources and lifesaving information, families can visit the CPSC website, sign up for email alerts, and follow their social media platforms. The work of the CPSC and its partners marks a hopeful step towards diminishing the dangers of furniture tip-overs in every American home.