29 Apr Here’s why prevention is better than supervision alone
Educational settings like schools and nurseries are places we all frequent at one stage of our lives or another. For parents and caregivers, these environments have to serve as a home away from home, with the staff within entrusted with nurturing the next generation.
As well as being settings of safety and trust, they’re also particularly fast paced. From the moment pupils arrive to their dismissal at the end of the day, and the many class changes and breaks in between, there is a lot going on, with the pinch points presented along the way having the potential to cause chaos if left unchecked.
One such pinch point is the door; the majority of finger trapping incidents occur following contact with high use doors, including those found in classrooms, corridors and toilets. Heavy fire doors are another door type that must meet compliance without compromising safety. But, what’s the answer to making finger trapping incidents things of the past in your educational setting? Here’s why it’s not increased supervision!
Say “no” to increased supervision
Whether you’ve seen an influx of finger trapping incidents or just want to be more cautious to protect the wellbeing of your students and staff, your natural instinct is certain to be increasing supervision. When it comes to hinge gap injuries however, there’s a long list of limitations, which may have consequences of their own.
Even the most vigilant staff members can’t fully man every door throughout your school or nursery building. In fact, all too often there’s just one adult that’s responsible for dozens of children. Finger trapping incidents are particularly dangerous because they happen in a split second, and can occur so quietly and quickly, even under the watchful eye of a teacher.
Design your space differently
Risks like finger entrapment shouldn’t be managed around, they should be designed out! Thanks to thoughtful design and the right protection devices, you can eliminate this risk completely, and it’s easier to do than you might think.
Finger guards may not be mandatory in UK schools, but their use is a step in the right direction as Derbyshire Services for Schools explains:
“Installing finger guards is a simple, effective, and proactive control measure that helps to mitigate the risk and supports a safe learning and play environment… Finger guards not only protect children from painful finger-trapping injuries but also help prevent the distress such incidents can cause. Their installation demonstrates a school’s commitment to maintaining a safe environment, reassuring parents and caregivers.”
While our door finger guards offer an easy to install, low maintenance safety solution you can trust, relying on behaviour is a little less consistent. Awareness should of course always be part of this solution, yet counting solely on supervision is not the answer.
There is such thing as ‘over-supervision’
Another aspect of a child’s journey a school or nursery is responsible for is development. Children develop best when exploration forms part of the mix, with independent investigation essential when nurturing a clever, confident kid.
If safety in your nursery or school relies too heavily on constant adult intervention, children won’t develop the skills and nurture the qualities they need for later life. Over-supervision means children become passive rather than self-directed. General risk awareness and confidence also grows more slowly, meaning children may be more reluctant to go about their day as independently as possible.
This study from Cornell University found that in complex situations – in this case the evacuation of their nursery or school – children deal with scenarios better without constant physical guidance.
Supporting both safety and independence
As small devices that prevent big accidents, our finger pinch guards should feature in every school, nursery or educational environment. They prevent accidents where constant control and supervision cannot, removing the hazard entirely to allow children to interact with and move freely through their surroundings to experience everything on offer.
Don’t wait for finger trapping accidents to happen, react now by preventing injuries with Fingersafe’s door safety systems.
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