A mum who considered her TV to be too ‘lightweight’ to require securing, has called for more education for parents on the dangers of unsecured furniture and appliances in the home.
Australian mum-of-three Megan Cammilleri made the suggestion during the inquest into the death of her daughter, Jasmine Lillian, who died after a TV fell on top of her.
According to Perth Now, Megan told the hearing how she had left Jasmine to watch TV on her own for about 10 minutes, when she heard a bang and a scream.
When she re-entered the room, she found her two-year-old daughter lying on the floor with the TV sitting on her chest.
Megan told the court that Jasmine had begun trying to climb up the TV cabinet months previously, but she considered the TV too lightweight to secure down. Instead, she pushed the TV further back on the cabinet, thinking that Jasmine would not try to reach it. Sadly, Jasmine did climb up the cabinet that day.
Megan called an ambulance immediately, and Jasmine was rushed to hospital; sadly, however, she passed away later that day.
Speaking at the inquest into the tot’s tragic passing, Megan suggested that parents receive more education about the dangers of leaving appliances and furniture unsecured in the home.
"If it's mentioned [that] straps or brackets are highly recommended, that would be a good thing…I just urge people to either put the TV on the wall or use the straps that you can purchase at the shops. You could say the TV itself is not particularly heavy, but if it gets your child in the wrong spot it can be lethal," she said.
We’re thinking of the Cammilleri family at this difficult time.
