Release Cord Saves Life

© 2004 Door & Access Systems
Publish Date: Summer 2004
Author: Tom Wadsworth
Page 74

CLIPPINGS
Garage Doors and Openers in the Media

Release Cord Saves Life

The Daily Herald (Provo, Utah), 04/24/2004
Article: Garage Door Pins, Injures 7-Year-Old
Author: Caleb Warnock

Talyr Mortensen, 7, was playing in a neighbor's garage when another child apparently pushed a button to close the garage door. Talyr became trapped beneath the door when a reversing sensor "apparently malfunctioned."

Lying on her belly, Taylr screamed, vomited, and stopped breathing as the door pushed down on her back. Her father rushed to the door exterior. He was able to lift it a quarter of an inch, allowing Taylr to breathe, but she was still trapped. He then yelled for the owner of the home, inside the garage, to pull the garage door safety release.

"The neighbor didn't know about the pull cord," said Taylr's mom. "She had to look around and find it and then pull it." Taylr, finally freed, was taken by ambulance to a hospital and treated for injuries. Taylr's mom is now "hoping to educate parents everywhere" to learn how to use the emergency release cord.

Editor's Note: Do your technicians routinely instruct all customers on how to use their release cord?

Carbon Monoxide Poisoning and Garage Doors

Sources: KUSA-TV (Denver), 01/21/2004; Rocky Mountain News, 01/22/2004
Articles: Man Leaves Running Car in Garage; Carbon Monoxide Sends Two Children to Hospital
Authors: Amanda Martin; Brian D. Crecente

Clay Harris's car was covered with frost and ice one wintry night. So, to warm it up, he pulled his car into the garage and let it run for awhile.

Two mistakes: (1) He went to bed, forgetting the car was running. (2) He didn't leave the garage door open enough to prevent the buildup of fumes.

About 2:30 a.m., his two children began vomiting and fainting. Their bedroom was directly above the garage. Fortunately, the car ran out of gas after 3-4 hours. If it hadn't, they would likely be dead.

All four members of the Harris family were treated for carbon monoxide poisoning in a hyperbaric chamber at a hospital. The family wants to encourage others to buy a carbon monoxide detector.

Editor's Note: Hmm. Has anyone yet developed a garage door or opener with a carbon monoxide detector? Do dealers sell them as optional garage products?

Leading Australian Garage Door Firm Being Purchased

Source: The West Australian, 05/25/2004
Article: Alesco Eyes Home Market in B&D Deal
Author: John Phaceas

In late May, Alesco Corp. of Australia began the acquisition of B&D Doors, creator of the Australian "roller door." The deal valued the garage door manufacturer at up to $182 million (in US dollars).

B&D, founded Arthur Byrne and Paul Davidson but owned by Catalyst Investment Managers, produced the first roller door in 1956 and produced its five millionth garage door in 2001.

Said to dominate the garage door market in Australia and New Zealand, B&D holds a market share estimated at up to 55 percent. It also exports to 25 countries. B&D reportedly generates annual sales of more than $105 million (USD).

In Australia, B&D is considered "the leading producer of automatic garage door openers, the market for which was growing more rapidly than the garage door market." The story says that about 30 percent of installed Australian garage doors have openers, but 80 percent of new doors are now sold with openers.

Editor's Note: Such snapshots of other door and opener manufacturers can provide some helpful perspective.

Front-Facing Garage Doors Outlawed

Source: Chicago Tribune, 11/30/2003
Article: Trustees Leave Door Open on Town Home Garage Rule
Author: Not stated

In August 2003, Libertyville (Ill.) officials decided to prohibit new town homes from having garage doors that face the street. Some homebuilders apparently objected to the ban and petitioned the town board to reconsider.

In November, the board did. They renewed the prohibition but decided to consider exceptions on a case-by-case basis.

Trustee Jeffrey Harger said, "It'd just look nicer if people's dirty garage doors weren't facing the street."

Editor's Note: Aren't you offended by those who generalize negatively and discriminate against our products? These town officials apparently don't realize how stunning some garage doors can be.