PARENTS are being urged to buy door safety catches to protect their kid’s against serious hand injuries.
The British Association of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgeons (Bapras) said the cheap door-stoppers and catches should be used to prevent thousands of children getting their fingers or hands crushed in slamming doors.
Fingertip injuries are the most common hand injury seen by plastic and reconstructive surgeons.
And toddlers are most at risk.
The Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents (Rospa) estimates that 30,000 children trap their fingers in doors at home, school, cars, nursery or in shop each year.
Bapras spokeswoman Anna De Leo, a surgeon based at the Royal Free Hospital in London, said: "It's easy to underestimate how important your hands are to doing everyday tasks.
"Injuries to fingers and hands mean tying your shoe laces, typing, holding a mobile phone or eating become a lot more challenging.
"And this is nothing compared to the impact of a finger amputation."
Figures from just one London hospital reveal that last year door crushing accidents resulted in 630 finger injury operations – 40 per cent of these were paediatric cases.
Routine use of door safety catches, that cost as little £1, can guard against injury to little fingers.
One of the most effective stoppers is a small C-shaped foam or rubber product, designed to be placed over the door to stop it slamming on children’s fingers.
Dr De Leo said people may joke about fingertip injuries but they could have a life-long impact.
“The injuries are so serious, that the patient would need to undergo a clinic appointment, an X-ray, day surgery, a follow up nurse appointment and possibly physiotherapy,” she said.
Meanwhile, amputation could lead to elbow pain, migraines and even depression later on.
She added: “Fingertip injury alone can result in 20 per cent loss of hand strength and can prevent people from pursuing their chosen career.”
Bapras said self-shutting heavy fire doors were a particular risk, as were car doors and door hinges.
A pack of 6 foam door stoppers in animal designs can be bought on Amazon for less than £1.
Homebase sells a similar product for 80p per piece.
Mothercare sells a pack of two for £2.49 and Tesco sells two for £3.99.