It's a hidden danger that lurks in living rooms and kitchens across the country.

And yet each year, glass topped tables account for more than 20,000 serious injuries.

A shard of glass can look like a weapon. It's sharp, long and pointy just like a sword or a dagger.

But that dangerous piece of broken glass actually came from a glass table top.

It's the same type of shard that nearly killed a Tacoma man, and the same kind of glass that's responsible for tens of thousands of injuries each year.

Doug: "When I went through, it broke. But I didn't realize there were shards."

Doug Sanders didn't have time to react -- large, sharp glass pieces pierced into his body, slicing his hands and missing his jugular vein by an inch.

Doug: "There were literally 20 to 30 shards sticking up in the air."

911 tape: "My husband just fell through the glass table and he’s bleeding really badly on his wrist.”

Paramedics rushed Doug to the emergency room. He was given 22 stitches, including four in his chest.

Doug: "By the grace of God, it didn't hit a main artery or sever a tendon in me. I got off lucky in that sense."

Each year in this country there are 20,000 hospital-treated injuries associated with glass furniture. Last December, an 11-year-old Rhode Island girl died after she suffered a severe puncture wound to her leg when she jumped on a glass coffee table.

Dr. Woodward: "We've seen children that have had minor injuries, children that had chronic disabilities and children that have died because of glass injuries."

Dr. Tony Woodward with Seattle Children's Hospital says most glass-related injuries can be prevented. He says if more furniture manufacturers used safety glass instead of annealed glass or regular glass there would be fewer injuries.

Dr. Woodward: "I think it is concerning. It's something that people aren't aware of."

With the help of Seattle's Professional Glass, we decided to test the difference between regular glass and protective or tempered glass.

When we dropped a 10-pound weight through an annealed glass table, the glass broke into long, dagger-like shards.

In contrast, when we dropped the same 10-pound weight through a tempered glass table, the glass shattered into small and smooth pieces, making it very difficult for anyone to cut themselves.

Jeff: "You can roll it in your hand a little bit. If you push really hard it could cut you, but most of the time it can't cut you."

Glass expert Jeff Meyer says most glass-top furniture in this country is made from regular glass. There's no federal requirement that would make glass furniture have safety glass.

Jeff: "Patio furniture is tempered, so how come the glass in your house isn't?"

Meyer says there is no easy way for someone to tell if the glass furniture they own is made from normal glass or safety glass.

Doug: "I could've bled out right in front of her. It could have been all over."

Doug Sanders didn't know the difference until it was too late. He now hopes his injuries will serve as a reminder as to what can happen behind this hidden danger.

Doug: "(It's by) the grace of God that I am standing right here. It was that close of a call. It really was."

Consumer Reports tells KIRO it's pushing for a voluntary standard that would require furniture manufacturers to use safety glass instead of regular glass.

It's even talking with Congress about writing a bill that would make it a law.

If you own glass furniture at home and do not know whether it's made of safety glass or annealed glass, call the manufacturer.