Door-related finger injuries: The statistics you need to know

06 Nov Door-related finger injuries: The statistics you need to know

Unfortunately, sustaining door-related finger and hand injuries is something many of us have been through. Rather than treat finger trapping as a rite of passage however, we’ve been on a mission to make door-related finger injuries things of the past.

As the creator of the original (and best) finger hinge protector for doors, we’re proud to have our door safety guards fitted across a range of settings all over the world. From nurseries and schools to prisons, commercial premises and industrial buildings, Fingersafe protection has helped to minimise risk, reduce liability, and protect individuals everywhere.

We believe door finger guards should be mandatory across every environment; here we share the facts and figures that really put into perspective why!

A LOT of children trap their fingers…

Shockingly around 30,000 children trap their fingers in doors every year according to the latest statistics from the Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents (RoSPA), and it’s not just doors at school, home and nursery that are the culprits. Car doors were big offenders and so too were doors in public places, like shops.

…and lots of older adults do too

Young children weren’t the only age group impacted by door-related finger injuries. In addition to children under the age of four being subjected to finger amputations due to trapping incidents, men aged 55 and over were commonly admitted into hospital for surgery.

Most finger amputations in men over 55 however were the result of improper use of power tools rather than doors as this research details.

Finger injuries lead to lifelong damage

Trapping your fingers is extremely painful, but when we consider the symptoms of door-related finger injuries, many of us only think short term. A great number of people who sustain injury suffer longer term damage. Some even experience a 20% loss in hand strength, presenting a lifelong restriction that could prevent the affected individual from pursuing certain career paths.

Surgeon Anna De Leo shares more troubling long term symptoms that are commonly caused by finger entrapment:

“It’s easy to underestimate how important your hands are to doing everyday tasks. Injuries to fingers and hands mean tying your shoe laces, typing, holding a mobile phone or eating become a lot more challenging. And this is nothing compared to the impact of a finger amputation. In this situation people may experience elbow pain, migraines and even depression.”

Other statistics reveal that of the 30,000 finger or thumb crushing injuries sustained by children under 15 and requiring hospital treatment, over 1,500 need some form of surgery.

Door safety should begin at home

The vast majority of door-related finger injuries that occur in children under the age of five happen at home. In fact, 59% of finger injuries are sustained in the child’s own home, with the offending door commonly closed by someone else or the child themselves.

The prevalence of finger trapping accidents at home is exactly why we provide door safety solutions for residential properties as well as commercial and industrial premises. Fingersafe® Shield is designed with the home environment in mind, and can be installed in minutes on the push side of standard door frames. Our domestic door guards provide protection along the full length of internal doors to guarantee the highest standards of child safety.

Ready to improve door safety?

You’re in the right place! Explore our full range of door safety systems right here or contact us to discuss your requirements. Whether you’re looking to kit out your home, school, nursery or another setting, we can help.