Garage Doors Pose a Danger to Children

Garage doors are considered by most home owners as a necessary part of the home and they are given no further thought.

Yet every year ten thousand Americans are injured by garage doors mishaps. Most doors are installed correctly and the openers operate according to specification, but as time goes by there is wear and a general lack of maintenance, the opener is adjusted to counter this and all appears well.

About seven thousand five hundred injured fingers a year could be less severe if the down force safety settings are properly set up, allowing the trapped person to push up on the door and having the opener reversing without extreme pressure to release the fingers. Sadly badly crushed fingers often need to be amputated.

Approximately two thousand five hundred Americans are injured when they get trapped under a closing door, and again the opener safety settings are at fault.
Older garage doors with regular (non safety) glass in them account for about seven hundred injuries when the glass breaks. This older glass should or could be replaced with newer glass.

When did you last check the safety features on your door opener?
When did you last check the mountings for the track and the opener?
Are they all secure?
Last but not least, have you looked at the hinges or rollers to make sure that none of them are loose, and does your door bind or catch in the track?
If the door jerks or grabs as it moves it be out of alignment which again could be a safety issue.

Older doors with springs and cables that run parallel to the track should have a safety wire through them to prevent injury when they fail.

Door openers are not supposed to be connected to the power using an extension cord, must plug directly into a receptacle.

Children are involved in a high percentage of door injuries.
If you are unsure, get a specialist to check out your door.