Redesigning the Door Reduces the Potential for Finger Injuries in Children

The standard door is a safety hazard for young children often resulting in crush injuries, nail avulsions, fractures, lacerations, and amputations. This type of injury occurs mostly households may sometimes happen to adults, although this less common. simplicity the door’s design has continually become concern due its potential cause injury. purpose study redesign reduce risk finger injuries children. A was designed model it constructed study. Its two major features utilize silicone rubber fins at pinch points “piano” hinge running entire length (instead conventional or three separate hinges) eliminate space between hinges. Ten closures using five models (beef stick, green beans, string cheese, crayons, red licorice twists) were performed observe assess from compared door. severity scored 0 – 8 numerical score. collected data recorded computer spreadsheet statistical analysis. resulted 1 amputation (0.7%) 120 amputations (out 200 closures) (60%, p<0.0001) had significantly lower scores (0.2 vs 4.8, p=0.0001). injurious than re-designing will likely