Each year, thousands of garage door-related accidents affect children, teenagers, parents, and the elderly. Although, the accidents are generally minor (like stuck fingers), they can quickly turn into severe situations (like crushed fingers). This is because the garage door is one of the fastest and heaviest moving parts in our homes.
If you want to protect your loved ones your best bet is to get informed on what causes most garage door accidents, and what safety precautions you can take to avoid them!
Children and garage door accidents
According to www.garagekidsafety.com , many garage door accidents are caused by children playing on them. So, it’s important that you teach your children the dangers they face when playing under or around the garage door, and especially riding on them. If you make a daily effort to keep the garage door remote out of reach from children then they won’t be as tempted to play with them. Also, it’s a good idea to make sure garage door switches are high up on the wall where they can’t be pushed by little fingers.
Your biggest alley in protecting your children is to educate them about garage door dangers. Show them where accidents happen and how they happen. A garage door can fall at any moment if a spring goes loose, or an installation error occurs. Other garage door accidents can happen when safety features give way, such as photo eye wire or auto reverse. Never assume these features are going to work properly. Always be prepared!
Be prepared by performing monthly maintenance tests
Be prepared by performing monthly tests on all your garage door features. I know this seems like a lot of work, but if you follow these 5 steps your garage door will be in top form and your loved ones will be safe:
- Check the frame and mechanisms to make sure no springs or screws have come loose.
- Does your auto reverse safety feature work properly? Test it by placing a box in its path to make sure it reverses. Note: if the reaction is delayed call a professional immediately!
- In the winter, make sure that no snow or ice is blocking the door.
- Check that your children, pets, and hard hearing parents are out of the way before you back up!
- Regularly clean your garage door and its working parts. Dirt and debris can cause all sorts of safety issues!
Please, if you suspect a problem it is vital that you don’t try to fix the error yourself (unless of course you have professional experience). Some garage door accidents have occurred when homeowners have attempted to fix them on their own in order to avoid spending money. Repairs do not cost that much! So, call a professional! If you are a Utah resident, A+ Garage Doors can take care of all your Utah garage doors needs. For more information about Utah garage doors visit us now!
