Ikea safety alert over drawers and dressers after two deaths

Ikea is warning customers who bought its Malm dressers and drawers that if they have not attached them to the wall already, they should go to their nearest store immediately for a kit that will enable them to do so. The warnings came after two children in the US died when the units fell on top of them - in two separate tragedies.

The affected items are the Malm three and four drawer units - and both styles of the Malm six draw units. It's though that around 27 million of the items have been sold around the world. If you have any of these units, you can either visit your nearest Ikea for a free kit, or call the company and one will be sent out to you.

Why?

Ikea is responding to an investigation by the US Consumer Product Safety Commission into the units, in the wake of the deaths of two children - one aged two and the other 23 months old - after the units fell on top of them.

It concluded that unless the furniture is attached to the wall, there is a risk it can tip, so Ikea is providing packs to help people secure the units, and recommends that they should be kept well away from children until they are secured. The company is also launching an awareness programme, encouraging parents to secure all free-standing furniture in order to protect their children.

Should you be worried?

Gerard Bos, IKEA's UK and Ireland Customer Relations Manager, said in a statement: "Furniture tip-over is a serious safety risk in the home, however IKEA chests of drawers and dressers are safe to use when assembled according to the assembly instruction and attached to the wall using the restraints provided in the packaging of these products."

He highlighted that the company provided kits to fix all floor standing units to the wall, in the original packaging. They also include warnings of the risk of furniture tipping if it is not fixed to the wall.

However, just in case these original fixings have been thrown away, the company is offering new ones free of charge, and reminding people just how important it is to use them.

Safety stories on AOL Money

Glass table from Asda 'explodes in sun'

Could your washing machine or dishwasher set your house on fire?

Tesco recalls Blackcurrant and Apple squash - prompting panic