Three Garage Door Safely Rules To Enforce To Keep Your Kids Safe
When you're working in the garage or in the front yard, you might hardly be paying attention to your kids as they roam around the area. While some youngsters won't show any interest in the garage door, others will gravitate toward it looking for some fun. Although it's true that the opening and closing of the door can be entertaining to your kids, it's also important to realize that the door possesses numerous safety risks, especially to children. In fact, more than 13,000 people across the country visited the hospital in 2007 due to injuries related to the garage door. To avoid letting your kids become a statistic, here are three rules worth enforcing.
No Entering Or Exiting Garage Once The Door Is In Use
Kids of all ages can often find it entertaining to attempt to enter or exit the garage while the door is closing. This can quickly turn into a competition to see who can make it under the door when it's as low as possible. While your kids might not see the danger, it's important that you do. Children can easily become trapped and crushed by the door, which can weigh close to 200 pounds, depending on the style of the door. Your kids need to know the rule that once the door is in use, they are not allowed to try to go under it.
No Touching The Door When It's Closed
Young children won't be able to touch a garage door when it's in the open position, but they might wish to play around it when it's closed. The concern here is that you or another family member could press the remote in your vehicle to open the door without your kids' knowledge. It's then possible for a child's finger to get pinched between the door panels or hinges or even crushed by one of the rollers on the side. Make sure your children know that it's safest to simply stay away from the door.
No Trying To "Ride" The Door
Kids can dare each other to stand on the ledge or handle at the bottom of the door and attempt to ride the door when it begins to move – this game can often occur when one child is tall enough to reach the opener button. While it might seem fun, there's a real risk of falling off and landing on the asphalt or even getting pinched at the top of the door. Contact a business, such as Bicknell Garage Door, for more information.