Display Hooks Can Cause Blindness or Permanent Brain Injury

When I conduct property liability inspections for retail establishments I’m always on the lookout for display hooks with straight ends.

They pose a very real hazard that comes with some VERY SEVERE consequences, including the possibility of:

• DEEP PUNCTURE WOUNDS,
• BLINDNESS,
• BRAIN DAMAGE, or
• DEATH

Even Though Straight Hooks Cause Severe Injury, NO Legislation Exists to Ban Them

Straight display hooks truly are “an ‘accident‘ waiting for a place happen” especially when they are located low on a wall or on a display where children and toddlers have access to them.  The worst case scenario is when a child stumbles while walking or running towards a display case and falls onto a hook that penetrates through the eye and into the brain.

Typing those words makes my blood run cold; especially because I know it can AND has happened many times in North America and around the globe.

What’s worse, the hazards have been recognized for more than 30 years yet many retailers still use these dangerous hooks – even though there are readily available, safe alternatives (J-Hooks, looped hooks,  and hooks that have square plates covering the hook’s point).

Yes, parents have a responsibility to maintain control over their children; however, that is not as easy as it may sound.  ANY parent will agree.  It’s unreasonable to believe that a parent or caregiver can prevent an incident like this from occurring at all times.

The responsibility truly rests with the property owner – they have a duty to protect their employees, customers, contractors – anyone who steps foot into their store.

What is more troubling to me than the fact that straight hooks are still used today is that it seems to me that straight hooks are used most frequently to display products that are enticing to young children.  When straight hooks are used to display toys and other goods that are attractive to children, the probability that a serious incident could occur is greatly increased.

Make a Difference in Your Community:

I extend a challenge to all who read this blog to make a difference.  You hold the power to effect change.

Every single time you spot straight hooks displaying products that are within a child’s reach send an email to the store manager asking them to replace the straight hooks with safer hooks.  Pull out your digital camera, smart phone, etc (if you have one handy) and take a photo of the hooks. . . this adds impact to the email.

Why send an email and instead of making a phone call or speaking directly to a manager?  Because you’ve just created a permanent record of your request.  The manager will be more likely to act knowing that you have proof of the request.

Sample e-mail wording:

“I was shopping at your store located at {insert address / location here} on {insert date here} when I came across some straight display hooks that are hazardous to children (see attached photo). {delete previous statement if no photo to attach}

Straight hooks have caused blindness and permanent brain damage to children who have fallen against them. Safer, alternative hooks are available and I’m asking if you would consider replacing all of your straight hooks with a safer alternative.

Please respond to my email so I know that you’ve received it and so you can let me know what your plans are.

I appreciate your time and look forward to hearing back from you.

Truly,

{insert name here}”

Links to online content regarding straight hooks:

• Safe Hooks: Fighting for Safe Store Displays (Website)
• Display Hook Injuries to Children (PDF)

These Straight Hooks Have Resulted in Blindness and Brain Damage

Note: I remember reading about a child who died from his/her injuries (over 6 or 7 years ago).  If you know of a case where a straight hook caused death, please comment with info that can point me to an article or story about it.  

Thank you!  

Ian Currie

She Couldn’t Get Through to 911

“She Couldn’t Get Through to 911.”  That was a Top News headline in one of our local news papers and it caught my attention.  The story told of a man who was having convulsions and his frantic wife who could not reach 911.  Apparently, for an unknown reason, her phone service provider was experiencing a glitch that wasn’t connecting 911 calls, but was allowing calls to any other number to get through.  Thankfully, she lived in an apartment and activated a fire alarm pull station which successfully summoned the help that was so desperately needed.

The article reminded all of it’s readers that 911 may not always be available, but the article didn’t provide any advice on what to do in such cases (activating the fire alarm worked in the case at hand, but not everyone lives in a building with a monitored alarm system).

So out of curiosity, I did some digging and made some phone calls of my own and came up with the following information.

It is absolutely critical for everyone to be prepared for the unexpected and when possible a ‘Plan B’ should always be in place.  In a case like this (no matter how rare it is to unsuccessfully reach 911), you can likely rely on your local police or ambulance non-emergency phone numbers to summon help.

Out of curiosity I called the non-emergency police and ambulance numbers listed in my local white pages and asked the people who answered, “Who should a person call if 911 cannot be reached?”

I was told that I could call any of the non-emergency numbers; that they are ‘manned’ 24 hours a day, 7 days a week and that they are able to have the police, fire department or ambulance service dispatched. 

I was cautioned; however, that incoming 911 calls take priority over the non-emergency numbers so there may be a delay in answering the calls.  

Other things to consider that should increase the odds that you will promptly reach help in an emergency situation:

• If you own a cellular phone keep it charged and on your person at all times just in case you are unable to get to your home phone or in case your home phone does not work.
• Program ‘911’ and your local non-emergency numbers into all of your phones (cellular and land lines) and also add the numbers to your address books.
• Prepare an emergency phone list and post copieson or near your telephones.  Make sure you include ‘911’ and the non-emergency numbers.  Also include other important numbers like your local natural gas and electric service provider’s emergencies numbers, your family doctor, family members and friends.  Also include alternate contact numbers for all adults living in the house (work, cell, etc . .  . this will allow babysitters and other caregivers to call parents/guardians if needed).
• Have at least one ‘standard’ phone connected directly to the phone line since cordless phones cannot function during a power outage.

Being able to summon help is just one important aspect of a complete and effective family emergency plan.  So (although not the focus of this email) all families should have a fire escape plan (exercised often), working smoke detectors and carbon monoxide detectors (tested often), fire extinguishers, etc.

Please understand that I am offering this information so you can improve your chances of reaching help when needed, but call your local authorities to make sure that this works in your area.  I can not be held responsible for any harm that may result from relying on this information.

Protecting Children From Playground Falls

“He who falls from a very high place upon a very hard and blunt object is in most danger of sustaining a fracture and contusion of the bone, and of having it depressed from its natural position; whereas he that falls upon more level ground, and upon a softer object, is likely to suffer less injury in the bone, or it may not be injured at all.”

– Hippocrates: notes regarding skull fractures (400 BC, approx)

Hippocrates was an ancient Greek physician who many refer to as the ‘Western Father of Medicine’ because of his contributions as the founder of the Hippocratic School of Medicine.  He is also widely credited with greatly advancing the organized study of clinical medicine & stipulating ethics for physicians through the Hippocratic Oath.

His observations, quoted above, may appear to be nothing more than common sense in modern days; however, one needs to consider that Hippocrates lived in a time (nearly 2,500 years ago) where illness was believed to be afflictions cast down by the gods & that people’s injuries were borne of nothing more than fate.  Regardless, his message is clear & relevant to this day & will continue to remain relevant with respect to playground safety – i.e. fall height & the type of surface are both main factors of injury probability & severity.

A Very High Place

Children love to climb & play at heights.  It is a natural desire that facilitates physical & mental development.  Playgrounds must offer an element of risk otherwise they won’t appeal to the children who use them.  They need a place to test their limits & learn from their mistakes – this fact is supported by countless people, organizations & studies.  Anyone who has watched a child at play will agree.

Based on the aforementioned, playground equipment manufacturers are challenged with designing equipment that offers a high degree of play value, while at the same time ensuring that the equipment is reasonably safe.  But what is reasonable & what is safe?  Although this is a question debated by many, the answer is found in CSA Z614, ‘Children’s Playspaces & Equipment’ which addresses playground equipment design, installation, inspections & maintenance.

Based on the age of the children who will be using the equipment & equipment height, CSA Z614 stipulates when & where guardrails or barriers are required.

Although guardrails & barriers can prevent falls, they do not entirely exclude the possibility of a fall from occurring.

There are two additional measures to consider:

• Reduce the equipment height (fall height) &
• Provide a shock absorbing protective surface that sufficiently absorbs the energy to a degree that limits the probability of debilitating or life threatening injuries.

A Softer Object

Softer is better. . . it only makes sense.  But what is ‘soft’, & how soft does a surface need to be to provide adequate protection from a fall?  CSA Z614 has the answer to these questions as well; and requires a surface to meet specific energy absorbing (a.k.a. surface impact attenuation) criteria.

Impact attenuation is a playground surface property that, through localized deformation or displacement, absorbs the energy of an impact in a way that reduces force & the peak acceleration sustained during an impact.  Simply stated, lowering impact forces & peak acceleration reduces the probability of sustaining serious injuries in a fall.

Many people incorrectly believe that providing a certain depth (or thickness) of protective surfacing material can meet CSA Z614 requirements (i.e. 12” of pea gravel).  This misconception is based on surface depth charts that are solely intended to serve as a benchmark and not to be used as a substitution for surface impact testing.

Surface Impact Testing

The only means to ensure that a surface complies with CSA Z614 is to test it in accordance with one of two specific test methods.  InNorth America, the test method of choice is ASTM F 1292,“Standard Specification for Impact Attenuation of Surfacing Materials Within the Use Zone of Playground Equipment.” Currently, the only portable testing device that meets the ASTM F 1292 requirements is the Triax 2000 Surface Impact Tester.

Relying on material depth alone, without testing the surface as per CSA Z614 places children at serious risk of injury. Do you want to take the chance that your surface is non-compliant?