I once had an occasion where my finger was crushed (no permanent injury thankfully) at a McDonalds. I was exiting the restroom which was crowded, and someone was entereing. I moved to the left, lost my balance and “reached” to stabelize myself. Unfortunately, one of my fingers ended up where the door was coming together (on my left, I think this is called the "door jamb). Had my finger gotten in further it could have been permanently damaged. This must occur to other people (especially children) somewhere everyday in the world. Every time almost any door is opened and closed the “potential” for this injury occurs.
All it would take to prevent this is a “cover” about a centimeter or so wide that extended the height of the door. This “cover” would need to be flexible so that it could expand and contract as the door opened and closed. I am envisioning a “crinkle” folded, rubber, soft plastic type material that is affixed with some sort of polymer to the door (or possibly wood staples). You would also need one on either side of the door although, I think that the risk is greatest on the side of the door opposite from the direction the door is being opened from (then again maybe that’s just because that’s where my injury occured). I can’t imagine that these would cost more than a few dollars per door to purchase an install (but the potential for volume sales are obvious). What am I missing? Does this already exist and it’s just a matter of no one using it? This seems like a much more likely area for being sued than hot coffee being spilled in someones lap.
There is something very similar to what the OP describes fitted on the doors of my local sports-centre.
If you’d any sense you’d have slammed the door a couple of more times, while phoning your lawyer with the other hand. (Joking! That would, of course, be fraud.)
perhaps this is an example of “technology” that is not widely utilized (I would argue unfortunately). How would I go about finding out how many injuries occur each year from fingers getting crushed in door jambs? Has anyone else even commented on this phenominum?
Your “phenominum” (sic) seems to have been already implemented abroad. “Technology” hardly. Is a spoon technology?
Let us know the results from your study of how many fingers get shut in door jambs by idiots in Mc Donald’s restaurants. I’d love to spend an afternoon pondering the intricacies of such a meaningless situation. Please keep us informed!
Why in God’s name are you keeping us from potentially usefull toe-stubbing information? Inquiring minds want to know.
Plus, I’ve got to believe that this happens with kids all the time and just doesn’t get reported as a “distinct” event. Meaning that there could be many such injuries, but no one is keeping tract. Your point about the technology being avaiable oversea’s is also valid. That’s why it is all the more perplexting that you don’t see it in use within the United States (at least I haven’t).
I agree, it sure does hurt! I’ve done it several times - I find it especially easy to do for some reason on my pantry door, which is about half the width of a regular sized door.
I think this is a really interesting question. I have to wonder what the impetus was for this gadget to have been introduced in the UK, when it seems to be far less common in the US and Canada. Surely the finger-squishing must be a pretty equal problem everywhere – I wonder who over there decided to start doing something about it, and why we have yet to catch on.