Children are fascinated by anything they can make go and up down with a push of a button. Playing with garage doors can seem like a fun game to them but it can easily turn from fun into injury. Garage doors weigh hundreds of pounds and should not be toyed with. If you have small children at your home, consider these safety tips to keep both your kids and your garage door from harm.
Installing Children-Friendly Garage Doors
If you are looking at installing a new garage door, there are some features to consider if you have small children. While most garage doors are perfectly safe when used correctly, a young child may be injured if they are allowed to play or use the garage door unsupervised. Some things to consider when installing a new garage door:
- Pinch-resistant door panels. Thousands of injuries happen every year when fingers get in between the panels of a garage door closing. Children are even more likely to not realize this danger. Many garage door companies offer pinch-resistant door panels to avoid getting fingers caught in these gaps.
- Garage open button. Make sure that the garage door open button is out of reach of small children. Have the installer put it high enough that small hands cannot reach it.
- Test the reverse mechanism. After the door is installed, make sure the reverse mechanism is working properly. Put a soft object under the door and close it. It should stop and reverse when it comes in contact.
A few small adjustments in your garage door installation can make it much safer for the small children in your home. It is worth the time and effort to keep them safe from preventable garage door accidents.
