December 28, 2025 6 min read Garage Door Bremerton Team
# Pinch Protection: Protecting Your Family
Every year, thousands of Americans suffer garage door-related injuries, many involving finger pinching between door panels. These injuries are particularly common among children, whose curiosity often leads them to touch moving doors. The good news? Modern garage doors feature advanced pinch protection technology that can prevent these painful and sometimes serious injuries.
Traditional garage doors have gaps between panels that close as the door moves. When a finger, hand, or other object is caught in this gap, the closing motion can cause severe pinching injuries. Children are especially vulnerable because they're more likely to touch moving doors and their smaller fingers can fit into gaps that adults might avoid.
According to the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission, approximately 20,000 people are treated in emergency rooms each year for garage door-related injuries. Many of these involve finger pinching that could have been prevented with proper safety features.
Modern pinch-resistant garage doors feature specially designed panel joints that eliminate the dangerous gaps found in older doors. Here's how the technology works:
Flush-Fitting Panels: The panels are designed to fit together without creating an exposed gap during operation. The joint design allows smooth movement while keeping fingers out of harm's way.
Rounded Edges: Panel edges are rounded or enclosed, eliminating sharp edges that could cause injury even if contact occurs.
Tamper-Resistant Brackets: Bottom brackets that hold the spring cables are enclosed or designed to prevent contact, as these are high-tension areas that can cause serious injury.
Pinch protection is just one element of a comprehensive garage door safety system. Consider these additional features:
Photo-Eye Sensors: Required, these sensors create an invisible beam across the door opening. If anything breaks the beam while the door is closing, the door automatically reverses.
Auto-Reverse Function: If the door contacts an object while closing, it automatically reverses direction. This should be tested monthly by placing a piece of wood in the door's path.
Manual Release: An emergency release cord allows manual operation during power outages. Ensure all family members know how to use it safely.
Motion-Detection Lighting: Automatic lighting makes the garage safer by illuminating the area when motion is detected.
Beyond installing safety features, educate your family about garage door safety:
- Never let children play with garage door controls, Keep remote controls out of children's reach, Teach children to stay clear of moving doors, Demonstrate that the door is not a toy, Ensure children never run under a moving door
If your garage door was installed before the late 1990s, it may lack modern pinch protection features. Signs you should consider an upgrade:
- Visible gaps between panels during operation, Sharp panel edges, Missing or malfunctioning photo-eye sensors, Auto-reverse function that doesn't work properly, Frayed or exposed cables
At Garage Door Bremerton, safety is our top priority. We can evaluate your current door's safety features and recommend upgrades to protect your family. Call 360-227-6810 for a free safety inspection.