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DANGER: Unprotected domestic appliances
One of the best documented tragedies was reported by the Daily Express: „Horrific death of boy, 4, locked in tumble dryer”. „A boy of four died in an horrific accident after hiding inside a tumble dryer”. And: Unable to get the door open from the inside, he died from head injuries, burns and inhaling fumes.
https://www.express.co.uk/news/uk/240361/Horrific-death-of-boy-4-locked-in-tumble-dryer
The second part of this tragedy was possibly the reason why it achieved such wide publicity. It was reported in an article on BBC News: „Mrs Gibson was arrested on suspicion of child neglect shortly after the death”. But: „All charges against her were later dropped.”
https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-england-derbyshire-13048280
So the poor mother not only lost her son but was also arrested on suspicion of child neglect. This is a tragedy which has happened due to an unsafe domestic appliance, a tumble dryer.
For more references:
http://www.google.com/#output=search&sclient=psy-ab&q=sonny+gibson+tumble+dryer+accident
Some of the most recent tragedies can be found in The Sun:
https://www.thesun.co.uk/news/5454708/oy-death-airtight-washer-dryer-locked-inside-dad-asleep/
TOT SUFFOCATES IN DRYER
Boy, 5, killed after climbing into airtight washer dryer and getting locked inside as his dad slept
https://www.thesun.co.uk/news/worldnews/6644184/washing-machine-suffocated-death-hide-and-seek/
DEATH BY WASHING MACHINE
Boy, 3, suffocated to death after locking himself inside a washing machine while playing hide and seek
PROBLEM DESCRIPTION:
Some domestic appliances have a working space or cabinet into which a child can enter. For example a washing machine, a dryer, a dishwasher, or an oven.
An unsafe situation can arise. The child is progressively endangered in the following:
- If the door can close behind the child inside he will suffer a shortage of oxygen. It can cause brain damage and/or suffocation.
- If the door locks, the child will be captured inside in a small space. It can cause stress or even a trauma.
- If the machine can start automatically, it will do serious injury to the captured child and may even kill him.
The problem is that domestic appliances allow the accidental full closure of their doors without an action that can be performed only from the outside of the appliance. It is an action that can never be made from the inside of the appliance.
In the following scheme for the prevention of such accidents, registered with the Benelux-Bureau for Intellectual Property under number 8311, catastrophic situations arise by omitting the safety steps shown in red:
This is the catastrophic situation that leads to fatal accidents involving children. It was the starting point for our development to regain child safety in domestic appliances that contain a cabinet in which children can enter, see SECURITY.