DECK-CHAIRS - PUTTING A FINGER ON THE PROBLEM, RATHER THAN IN IT

Although often portrayed as something of a joke, injuries sustained in the setting-up and use of deck-chairs can have fairly serious consequ ences. Six patients who sustained finger injuries in some of London's Royal Parks during the Summer are presented together with data from th e Department of Trade and Industry suggesting that, taken throughout t he country as a whole, large numbers of injuries may be occurring. Not ably, four of our patients were foreign tourists who may be less famil iar with the traditional wooden folding deck-chair. Surprisingly no Br itish Standards Institute (BSI) guidelines exist relating to deck-chai r safety. These finger injuries can have marked morbidity if they invo lve victims who depend upon manual dexterity in their work or hobbies.