Most people don’t think twice about their garage doors. Especially with how safely they operate. But did you know that garage doors play a part in thousands or injuries a year? The U.S CPSC or Consumer Product Safety Commission have reported approximately 20,000- 30,000 people visit the emergency room each year with garage door related injuries. Maybe now you’re wondering what some garage door injuries are and how they can be prevented. Here’s also some reasons why you shouldn’t let your husband or boyfriend just fix it himself!
Statistics; Common Garage Door Spring Injuries & Accidents
The following are some more common Garage door injuries:
• Pinched, crushed or in some cases amputated fingers – Fingers caught in the section joints of the door.
• Falling door – The garage door falling for whatever reason. Could be due to a lack of or need for maintenance.
• Try to do maintenance or repair yourself – This is where you’ll see the injuries to your husband etc. Letting a professional like VF&I Garage Door Services handle any repairs or maintenance needs is a much better idea.
• Entrapment or being crushed – The door falling and trapping someone under the door. Racing to beat the door is something my husband does all the time. Closing the garage and then trying to get out before the garage closes. Though “electric eye” sensors have made it more difficult for these injuries they can still occur if you have a faulty sensor or reversing mechanism.
• Riding the door – These are injuries that occur when someone especially children try riding the door up or down.
• Serious injury or death – Serious injures or death can occur while working on doors. Posts like the springs and cables are under a lot of tension.
Garage Door Safety Tips & Injury Prevention
Remembering that garage doors weigh about 400 pounds is important. Here’s five tips to help you prevent injuries to you or your family caused by garage doors.
1.Keep children away from the door. Do not let them control the door. Keep the garage control out of their reach and within the view of the door. Garage doors are not toys.
2. Monthly tests of your doors reversing mechanism should be performed. Place an object under the door and if it doesn’t stop and open if the the object is in the way call VF&I Garage Door Services immediately.
3. Make sure to keep hands and fingers away from doors when opening or closing to avoid those injuries.
4.Never try to repair garage doors or any of their parts yourself. Some parts such as the cables and springs are under a lot of tension and could cause serious injury or death.
5. If someone (hopefully not you) hits the garage door, have it inspected as soon as possible as you wouldn’t want any further accidents to happen. Even if the door doesn’t look damaged, get it checked out any way as the operating systems may be misaligned or have premature wear.
Emergency Garage Door Repair Services in Las Vegas, Summerlin, North LV & Henderson Nevada
So now that we’ve covered some of the more common garage door injuries and how to prevent them if you have any questions, are in need of service or just an annual maintenance check. Don’t do it yourself. Instead call us and we’ll send out a professional that isn’t your husband!
