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Following the death of an Ogdensburg child crushed by dresser, Ritchie wants to raise awareness of heavy furniture dangers

Posted 7/13/15

All three state senators representing St. Lawrence County have voted in favor of a bill directing the state’s Consumer Protection Division to develop a public awareness campaign about the danger of …

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Following the death of an Ogdensburg child crushed by dresser, Ritchie wants to raise awareness of heavy furniture dangers

Posted

All three state senators representing St. Lawrence County have voted in favor of a bill directing the state’s Consumer Protection Division to develop a public awareness campaign about the danger of heavy furniture that could fall on or be pulled down by a child, and the need to anchor pieces to floors or walls.

Sen. Patty Ritchie, R-Heuvelton, was the bill’s sponsor. Senators Joe Griffo, R-Rome, and Betty Little, R-Queensbury, voted yes.

Ritchie says she sponsored the bill in the wake of two toddler deaths in her 48th District, which includes most of northern and western St. Lawrence County.

One of the incidents happened in Ogdensburg.

In 2012, a 2-year-old boy was crushed to death when a dresser fell on him. His entire family, including six siblings, all were home at the time, Ritchie said.

According to the US Consumer Product Safety Commission, at least 430 deaths were attributed to tip-over incidents from 2000 to 2013, with 84 percent involving children under the age of nine, according to Ritchie.