Finger entrapment: which age groups are most at risk?

08 Apr Finger entrapment: which age groups are most at risk?

Finger entrapment presents a very real risk to everyone at some stage of their lives. Here at Fingersafe, we help every individual enjoy safer, more secure settings, preventing the often horrific consequences of entrapment in doors of all types. It is however important to acknowledge that finger trapping is more common in some age groups than others, with the settings they frequent in need of greater protection as a result.

Read on to discover the age groups most at risk of finger entrapment and what you should do to protect them…

Infants

The years between birth and age three are generally where our little people need the most protection. According to the Child Accident Prevention Trust, 450,000 visits to A&E departments and 40,000 emergency hospital admissions in England each year are the result of accidents at home. Trapped fingers are among the most common afflictions suffered by young children simply exploring their environment and doing exactly what they should be doing at this age.

The transition from infant to toddler presents yet more risk as these experts explained in an article from Today’s Parents:

“Woods adds that anything within a toddler’s reach can become a potential hazard. ‘This includes things like electrical cords, ornaments, and even cups with hot drinks,’ he says. ‘Small objects that might have fallen behind the couch can also become choking hazards.’ Bertuzzi stresses that because toddlers often act before they think, parents should be proactive.”

Curious by nature, the hands of infants and toddlers explore everything, with tiny fingers so easily fitting into the narrowest hinge gaps. With no understanding of cause-and-effect either, the youngest age group is left particularly vulnerable to finger entrapment.

Children

Even after the explorative infant and toddler years, children aged between 4 and 12 remain at risk of finger entrapment, with home and school settings both proving problematic without the right door safety systems in place.

While independence and risk awareness increase with age, young children still have a lot to learn when it comes to door safety. This is especially true in busy, high traffic environments or settings where they could become easily distracted.

Teens

Teenagers may be more than aware of the dangers of doors, but this doesn’t stop them from entering our rundown of most at-risk groups for finger entrapment!

Teenagers – aged between 13 and 18 years old – are increasingly vulnerable in this digital age. Multitasking, fast paced lifestyles, and the presence of smartphones or other devices after all foster an inattention that can so often lead to finger injury.

Older adults

Speed is the cause of injury for older adults too, but it’s the reduced reaction time of those aged 65 or more that’s the issue. Decreased grip strength, balance problems and cognitive decline have also been linked to the prevalence of door finger injuries in this age group.

A solution for all

Whatever the age group or the setting, our finger protection devices are the key to better door safety standards.

We’ve been designing safer spaces thanks to the integration of our finger guards since we started out, and pride ourselves on delivering a door safety solution for (almost) every door type. Find the right door finger protection device for your application today right here.