WELL-BEING
Follow this safety advice from the Overhead Door Corporation:
* Keep the garage door opener control button out of the reach of small children. And do not let children play with garage door remote controls.
* Never place fingers between door sections. Explain the dangers to children and consider pinch-resistant door panels.
* Consult the owner’s manual and learn how to use your garage door’s emergency release feature.
* Each month, inspect the springs, cables, rollers and pulleys for signs of wear. Do not try to remove, adjust or repair these parts or anything attached to them. These parts are under high tension and should only be fixed by a trained door technician.
* Test the reversing mechanism, monthly, too. Place a 2×4 board or a roll of paper towels in the door’s path. If the door does not reverse after contacting the object, call a qualified professional for repair. If the garage door opener has not been replaced since 1993, get a new one that has safety beams and an auto-reverse as standard features.
* Do not leave the garage door partially open. When activated again, it may travel downward and come in contact with an object in its path. This also compromises a home’s security.
* Never leave the remote control in the car when given to a parking attendant. A stolen remote leaves you more susceptible to home invasion. Always lock your car when left unattended. Store the remote out of sight.
© American Institute for Preventive Medicine