Child Safe Doors

Doors slam and bang in the wind from the day they are installed in the house. No builder is unaware of the problem of slamming doors. What they don't know but highly suspect, is the rate of injury to children caused by those slamming doors. 1% of New Zealand is currently on the books at ACC for injuries caused by doors. If that trend remains true, you have 10% of the population over ten years. Or 100% of the population over 100 years. Statistically, if you consider that no one would be gullible enough to be injured twice, that means that every one of us will, at some time be injured by a door so badly that we will require medical treatment.

Statistically, that means that every one of us will, at some time, be injured by a door so badly, that we will require medical treatment.

Yes, I said that twice. It needs to sink in. What are the chances that you will be injured by a door? 100%.

I was injured by a door. I am a current ACC statistic. No, it did not slam on me but opened so hard that it pulled the ligaments in my shoulder. The same door knocked a small woman down and broke her elbow. What does this have to do with kids and SoftSlam you ask?

First, the door closer on the door was adjusted too tight for safety. In the US, where a company would be sued for the two injuries that we sustained, there are laws regulating how much force can be necessary for opening a door. Doors set so tight that they do injury to grown people have crushed small children. Why would someone set their door closer so tight? Convenience. The slamming of the door causes vibrations. Those vibrations cause door closers to lose their adjustment. Once that happens, the maintenance manager is back on the job and having to adjust again. If I adjust it tighter, it'll last longer.  People have thoughts like this all the time. It's perfectly normal for someone being paid to do a job to want that job to be easier, not so repetitive, or to have it go away all together. Unfortunately, in this case, such thoughts create unnecessary risk.

Builders, lock smiths, home providers, real estate agents know that their doors slam. Home owners, children and pets find out that their doors are dangerous. SoftSlam can protect you, your children, your pets, and your home from slamming doors. Now that we know, it's time to start doing something about it.

Taming the enemy,

Elizabeth

SoftSlam - stop door slamming