child dies in front loading washer

[passatdoc]

Very sad story. Never heard of this happening before, and if the spokesman for the US Product Safety Commission is to be believed, this is the first time this has happened with a front loader. Most likely the 15 year old was imitating his mother's action in working the buttons.

I have friends in PA who recently bought a Frigidaire front loading set on my suggestion (model 2140) but they have a second floor laundry room with locking door to keep their three toddlers out of the laundry room. They keep the washer door ajar and know that this would be a very tempting swing or plaything for a toddler. For people with an unsecured laundry area (say, a hall off the kitchen, as we had growing up), it must be a nightmare trying to secure the machines. Even if someone choses a top loader in the interest of safety, there is still a front loading dryer hazard.

http://www.latimes.com/news/local/orange/la-me-washing-machine-death6-2009feb06,0,2531899.story

 

[passatdoc]

The difference though is that a traditional TL washer and FL dryer would have controls on the rear of the machine, not on the front panel where a child could activate them.

 

[ronhic]

I posted this earlier this week....as it hit the Australian

..but the easiest solution is to switch it off (all our points are switched) or unplug it...

Not to mention using any door safety things....

My Electrolux/Zanussi has a button in the inside edge of the door I can turn to prevent the door being shut...

It all comes down to being a responsible adult. If you leave your appliances switched on/plugged in and water on in a ready to use state and have children, you have the potential for disaster....and if you fail to use the safety devices fitted well my sympathy has gone totally...

For me to get my machine from a safe, non-usable state to ready to use takes 15-20 seconds....tap on, switch on and door closure prevention turned to close...(coin in slot)

Nobody but nobody is that pushed for time that they can't turn a tap and flick a switch/plug a lead in

NOBODY....

Why does it take a tragedy for us to take responsibility for our actions or inactions or do we just not 'think'?

http://www.automaticwasher.org/TD/THREADS/MODERN/20702x12.htm