Doors and windows are often overlooked when it comes to childproofing a home. This Child Safety Week, we’re highlighting the risks around doors and offering our advice on how to keep children safe.
According to the Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents (RoSPA), an estimated 30,000 children trap their fingers in a door every year in the UK, 1,500 of which require surgery. Thankfully, there are steps parents can take to prevent these accidents.
Why are children at risk?
Young children are curious explorers, constantly reaching and grabbing things. As children begin to crawl and walk, the risk of them hurting themselves around the home increases. In fact, children account for approximately 8% of A&E admissions every year. Of the 1.2m admissions in 2023, wrist and hand-related trauma was the second most common injury, with frequent causes including slammed doors.
Their small fingers fit perfectly into door gaps, and their lack of coordination and understanding of cause and effect makes them vulnerable to painful accidents. Additionally, the speed doors can slam shut can catch them by surprise.
How do I prevent the risk in my home?
- Check whether your doors have built-in safety features
The best way to determine whether your existing doors are child safe is by checking whether your current doors have built-in safety features. You can do this by taking a look at the doors themselves, or by referring to the manufacturer’s website which should have a section dedicated to safety and security. For example, doors that have pre-installed finger-safe gaskets significantly reduce the risk of accidents and keep tiny fingers safe in the home.
If they don’t have adequate built-in safety features, you should consider replacing them with doors that have been designed to be child-safe. Research the door manufacturer you plan to replace existing doors with to see if they prioritise child safety features in their designs and put their products through rigorous security and safety testing. The more safety features, the better.
- Supervision remains key
Doors can be a hidden hazard, so, even if you’ve bubble wrapped the home, you should never leave a young child unattended near a closing door. Safety measures are not a substitute for supervision.
As your child grows and gains more independence, you can gradually remove additional features and start to teach them how to use doors safely.
Why Origin?
Origin’s aluminium doors are the safest on the market. From finger safe gaskets and magnetic catches, through to restrictor hook options and 8-points locking systems – all products in the Origin Home range have been designed with your family’s safety in mind.
Read more about Origin’s built-in safety features.