05:48 PM PDT on Wednesday, May 11, 2005

By CATHY KIYOMURA / KING 5 News

SEATTLE -- A child survived having a 27-inch television fall on her head. But 17-month-old Hayden gets to go home after 18 days of care at Harborview Medical Center.

KING

Little Hayden and her mother, Heather Mauseth.

The TV caused a major fracture after it fell off a chest of drawers. Hayden was trying to climb the dresser when her mother momentarily stepped out of the room.

“She was unconscious, went into seizures right away,” said her mother Heather Mauseth.

Experts said Hayden was not a victim of a freak accident. A study shows TV tipovers are a significant source of pediatric head injuries. In 1992, 31 toddlers suffered head injuries from TV tipovers. A decade later, the number increased to 117.

“About 10 percent of children die from it,” said pediatric physician, Dr. Elinor Graham. “Another 10 to 20 percent have serious neurological impairments for the rest of their lives. It's not a trivial thing.”

Parents are advised to make sure everything is secure and go beyond what they normally do.

At Hayden's house, the TV is now bolted to the wall.