PHOENIX (KSAZ) -
It's a startling statistic. Every two weeks a child is
crushed to death by tipped over TVs, furniture, or appliances.
For the first time, we're hearing from a valley woman
whose 3-year-old son was killed when a TV fell on top of him.
Heather Poole says she thought her home was child-proofed.
She had cabinet locks, socket covers, even a pool fence. But the one thing she
never thought of ended up taking her son's life.
Poole is hoping other parents will learn from her
mistake.
"I got home from work, went in to kiss my son goodnight
and found him underneath his dresser and television."
Brayden Rodgers' skull was crushed and he died instantly.
Investigators say the 3-year-old climbed on a dresser, trying to reach the TV.
That's when the TV and dresser fell on top of him.
"This is the last picture I have of my son on Christmas
day. This is all I have left," says Poole.
"Parents are not supposed to bury their children, that's
not the way it works."
Heather Poole hadn't even thought about anchoring her
furniture down. It's an easy and inexpensive way to protect your little
ones.
"For a $1.93 I could have saved my son's life."
Now Poole has dedicated her life to sharing Brayden's
story -- hoping other parents will never experience her pain. She hopes everyone
will go home, look around for TV's and furniture that can tip over, and secure
that furniture to a wall.
30 to 40 kids are rushed Phoenix Children's Hospital every
year after being critically hurt by a tip over. One of those kids dies every
year.
"There were days that I believed I was the worst parent in
the world for allowing this to happen, but I love my son and now all I have left
of him is an urn of ashes and I don't want other families to go through
this."
Even if you don't have kids, it's a good idea to brace you
furniture and TV's to the wall. Kids and seniors might come over for a visit and
hurt themselves.
More information on Brayden's
story: braceitforbrayden.org
