Also online at: www.dijonline.co.uk 42 THE door industry journal winter 2023 Industry News The Importance of Avoiding Finger-Crushing Incidents Painful finger-trapping accidents are far more common than you might think. Did you know a staggering 30,000 people trap and seriously crush their fingers in doors every year, according to RoSPA? And over 1,500 of these alarming incidents, particularly involving children, will require surgery. In fact, plastic surgeons warn of the lifelong problems often experienced when children’s fingers are crushed in a closing door. According to the British Association of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgeons (BAPRAS), fingers crushed in a door could result in long-term pain or even amputation. Who’s at Risk of Finger Trapping? Although finger-trapping accidents are more common with children under five, older people and those with additional needs, a painful fingercrushing incident can happen to anyone. And every door presents a potential risk. From homes to commercial buildings such as residential homes, schools, nurseries, leisure centres and libraries, having finger protection guards fitted to the hinge side of your doors is essential to eliminate the risk of painful, severe finger injuries that could cause lasting damage to finger bones, joints and tendons. How do Finger-Trapping Accidents Happen? A finger-trapping accident can occur on the handle or hinge side of a door. While a handle-side accident can be severe, hinge-side incidents can be far more dangerous. Hinge-Side Finger Trapping Maybe surprisingly, a hinge-side finger-trapping incident can be extremely serious - fingers can easily be crushed, broken or cut off completely. A hinge-side finger accident can potentially happen to anyone who places their fingers near the hinge side of an open door. Due to the nature of this type of crushing and how the door closes, fingers can be trapped for a while. If this is the case and fingers become trapped in the hinge side of the door for a prolonged period, the situation can become especially worrying as the trapped fingers begin to create toxins in the tissue. If fingers - or any part of the body - become crushed for fifteen minutes or longer, you should call an ambulance immediately. In this situation, you should always wait for a medical professional before releasing the trapped person. Extended trapping has the potential to be fatal. Handle-Side Finger Trapping Whether slammed by the wind or closed too quickly, fingers near the handle side of a door can easily become trapped if not moved out of the way. Although it’s less likely that a more serious, extended trapping will occur on the handle side, fingers can still be broken, crushed or cut off. The Lifelong Implications of Finger Crushing Did you know plastic and reconstructive surgeons more commonly see fingertip injuries than any other hand injury? Unfortunately, toddlers are at the most significant risk of a fingertip injury, and a shocking one in six of these injuries will result in amputation. According to BAPRAS, figures from just one London hospital over one year revealed that a significant 630 nailbed injury operations were caused by fingers becoming crushed in doors. And 40% of these operations were carried out on children.
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