Oddly enough, when people think of household hazards, they often overlook the largest one. Garage doors, particularly older models, can be very dangerous. Each year, many adults, children and pets are injured or killed by automatic garage door openers.

The garage door is usually the largest and heaviest moving item in a house, sometimes weighing as much as 300 to 400 pounds. This can create a safety hazard, especially for children who are smaller and may not be aware of the dangers.  Most injuries involve fingers or hands caught between the door sections as they close. Children or animals can also be trapped under a closing door.

Safety Features

If you have an automatic garage door opener, or are thinking of installing one, safety should be your first priority. Fortunately, new units offer safety features that make it easier to protect your home and your family.

A feature of modern garage doors is the electric eye, which reverses the garage door if anything crosses in front of it. Electric eyes, also known as photoelectric beams, have been standard equipment for garage-door openers since 1993. Newer photoelectric eyes use wireless technology for added convenience.

If your opener does not have a photoelectric device, we suggest checking the door at least once a month to see if it auto reverses when coming in contact with an object or replacing it with a modern unit.

To test the door, place a full roll of paper towels on the floor where the door would come to rest when fully closed. Close the door. The door should auto-reverse when coming in contact with the paper towels. If the door does not reverse or squishes the roll of towels, the opener will need to be adjusted. Consult your owners' manual or have a qualified service person adjust your door.

Older manual garage doors use torsion springs to make opening and closing easier. These springs are under extreme tension and should not be adjusted without the proper tools. Torsion springs should be adjusted or replaced by a trained serviceman if the door doesn't stay open or is difficult to open or close.

Visually inspect the garage door springs, rollers, pulleys, cables, and track on a regular basis. Look for loose or worn parts. Do not attempt any maintenance around the springs. The springs, their mounting brackets, cables, and other associated hardware are under high tension. If a part were to break or come loose, it could cause serious injury. An experienced individual should do this work.

Practice Safety

At home, teach your children safe garage door practices. Install garage door push buttons at least five feet above the floor, out of reach of small children. Make sure your children know to never stand, walk or run under a closing door.

Adults should model this behavior as well and provide a good example. In the event of an emergency, all children should know how to go for adult help. However, when children reach an age where they can responsibly learn, they should know how to use the emergency release in case someone is pinned.

New Innovations

Another recent innovation is the wireless keypad, which opens the garage door when the correct code is entered. Keypads can be especially helpful if you find yourself locked out of your house.

Newer garage doors also incorporate a "pinch proof" design that doesn't allow you to get your finger caught between the panels as the door opens or closes.

QUICK TIPS

• When moving into a new home. be sure to investigate the security of a garage door opener. Reset the access code switch setting.
• While on vacation or away from home for extended periods of time. unplug the garage door opener unit or use a wall console security switch.
• Never operate an automatic garage door opener without a clear view of the tracks and opening.
• To prevent accidents when a garage door is closing, invest in garage door openers that feature an invisible beam that stops when an object intersects it.
• Never disclose your wireless keypad Personal Identification Number (PIN) or leave it written down.
• Never leave the remote control in the car or with a parking attendant. It should be treated like a house key.
• Teach your children safe garage door practices.
• Whenever away from home, lock all doors leading into the garage if is it attached to the house.
• Just as you change the locks on the door when you move into a new home, make sure to investigate the security of a garage door opener. If there is an access code switch setting, it should be reset according to the manufacturer's instructions.
• Always have a clear view of the track and opening when closing the garage door. Check to make sure there are no obstructions, such as tools handles, toys or a person.
• Always keep hands and fingers clear of the cables, springs, rollers, tracks and section joints when opening or closing a garage door.
• If the garage is attached, make sure that the door, which leads from the garage into the house, is locked whenever away from home.