Citation

Bhattacharya S, Singh A, Kumar V, Raj V, Grover A, Jahnavi G, Garg S. J. Family Med. Prim. Care 2024; 13(4): 1584-1585.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2024, Medknow Publications)

DOI

10.4103/jfmpc.jfmpc_923_23

PMID

38827694

PMCID

PMC11141955

Abstract

According to the concepts of GLOBALIZATION OF NOTHING, AMERICANIZATION, and WESTERNIZATION, everything is looking the same everywhere these days.[1] Same brands of clothes (Peter England, Jockey), same brands of shoes/bags (Gucci), chain of eating joints (McDonald's, KFC), or malls (Ikea). In the same way, all buildings and housing look similar; WESTERN designs are being copied even in India. Open windows are out of fashion. Thickened glass tall windows are being favored. Even the prefabricated tall wooden doors are being imported.[2-5] In the markets, entry points of shops are being converted to top to bottom thickened glass doors and display shelves. People are not used to transparent glass doors. Glass door injuries are a by-product of these designs.[6] It can occur in homes, business centers, or public places. Various factors leading to these injuries are running into the transparent glass doors as they are difficult to spot, or the door may injure the persons using them if their fitting is not proper.[6,7] Glass door injuries have been reported worldwide including India. In fact, there have been reports of glass door injuries in different settings, such as shopping malls, airports, and hospitals in India. The severity of these injuries can range from minor cuts and bruises to more serious injuries such as deep lacerations, broken bones, and head injuries.[6,7]

Overall, while there is no comprehensive data on the prevalence of glass door injuries, no one can deny the fact that these do occur and can result in significant harm. It is important to take steps to prevent glass door injuries whenever possible. According to a study published in the Journal of Emergency Medicine, glass-related injuries accounted for approximately 8.3% of all emergency department visits in the United States between 2002 and 2012.[8] While not all these injuries were specifically related to glass doors, it does indicate that glass-related injuries are not uncommon. Another study published in the Journal of the American Medical Association found that approximately 20,000 children under the age of 18 are treated in emergency departments in the United States each year for injuries related to glass doors and windows. This study specifically looked at injuries related to windows and not necessarily glass doors, but it does suggest that glass-related injuries can be a significant problem.[9] Hence, keeping it in mind, steps need to be taken to prevent glass door injuries whenever possible. For this, it is important to ensure that all glass doors are properly marked with visible stickers or markers so that people could easily see the entrance properly. Also, these need to be kept clean and free of any obstructions. Additionally, glass doors should be properly secured to prevent them from swinging or sliding unexpectedly. This will ensure that people avoid banging their head into the glass wall/partition when running or walking too quickly in areas where glass doors are present.

Language: en