IKEA Offers Free Repair Kit For Chests, Dressers Following 2 Child Deaths
WASHINGTON (CBS) -- IKEA has issued a safety alert for millions of chests and dressers that can tip over and fall on children if they're not properly secured to a wall.
The Consumer Product Safety Commission announced Wednesday that roughly 7 million MALM chests and 20 million other IKEA chests and dressers are included in a nationwide repair program.
Two children have reportedly died after MALM chests tipped over onto them, the CPSC said. IKEA says customers should immediately stop using children's chests and dressers more than 23.5 inches tall, and all adults chests and dressers over 29.5 inches tall unless securely anchored to the wall.
In February 2014, a 2-year-old Pennsylvania boy died when a MALM 6-drawer chest toppled over and fatally pinned him against his bed. A 23-month-old Washington child died in June 2014 when a 3-drawer MALM chest tipped over, the CPSC said.
IKEA says the chests and dressers need to be safely secured to a wall, and are offering a free repair kit to customers.
"Consumers should move unanchored chests and dressers into storage or other areas where they cannot be accessed by children until the chests and dressers are properly anchored to the wall," the CPSC said in a statement.
A free wall anchoring kit can be found at IKEA retail stores, the IKEA website or by calling (888) 966-4532.