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You try cutting, tearing and ripping.
Depending on which way you choose to try and open hard plastic packaging, the outcome can be painful.
“I've cut myself with a knife,” a consumer told ABC15. “Because I was trying to open it.”
Plastic packaging, often called a “clamshell”, can turn dangerous.
According to the Consumer Product Safety Commission, or CPSC, plastic packaging has caused more than 25,000 injuries since 2004.
The problem is not just the hard, clamshell like casing.
It is also what people are using to open up the packaging.
Scissors and knifes are the common implements people use.
The result isn’t always good said Dr. Robb Leigh, an ER physician at Good Samaritan Hospital in Phoenix.
“They can inflict serious injuries, especially in hands,” said Dr. Leigh.
Ever year he treats injuries caused by people trying to open plastic clamshell packaging.
“They are definitely frustrated that it is so hard to open, which it shouldn’t be,” he said.
Dr. Leigh said some of the injuries are superficial, but some are more serious than they appear.
“A lot of times it is not really that minor,” he said. “You can cut through the top of the fingers like a millimeter or two and already be down to the tendons. So, it’s not that hard to reach that.”
CPSC injury reports show a Phoenix woman “cut herself” when the knife she was using to open a package “slipped”.
In Santa Fe, a man tried using “scissors, a kitchen knife, a box cutter and finally a butchers cleaver. The cleaver slipped and cut his hand. He required eight stitches.”
We found similar plastic packaging being used in a variety of items at Valley stores.
“I’ve definitely seen them on toys and chargers,” a consumer told ABC15.
We found scissors packaged in hard plastic clamshell packaging. In this case, you may need scissors to get to the scissors.
We also found a phone charger for the car displayed in similar packaging. Although intended for use in the car, you may have to take it home before you can use it, unless you keep sharp tools in your vehicle.
Virgin Mobile USA, maker of that cell phone charger, told ABC15:
“The packaging that we use to sell Virgin Mobile USA’s handsets and accessories is designed to securely protect the product. Virgin Mobile USA follows the appropriate standard in the electronics industry, which has proved, in our experience, to be a safe and secure way to display our products at point of sale retail locations.”
None of the specific products that are featured in this story have been directly linked to injuries.
However, there are ways to prevent any future problems you may incur with similar plastic packaging.
“Blunt tipped, heavy duty scissors are probably the best thing,” Dr. Leigh said.
When attempting to open this type of packaging, always cut away from the body.
Leigh recommends using heavy-duty gloves to protect your other hand.
“A lot of the injuries that we see are on the other hand that's holding the object,” he said.
The companies using this type of plastic packaging say they do it for the consumer, so that you can be assured you are taking home a pristine product.
Consumers we spoke to say they would prefer easy to open packaging instead, so they can lessen their chances of sustaining an injury.
“It could be better, put it that way,” a consumer told ABC15.
What you need to know about opening clamshell plastic packaging:
- Always clear the area of people
- Use heavy duty, utility scissors with blunt tips
- Wear protective gloves to protect both hands
- Always cut away from yourself
- Don’t use your legs to keep the product stable; you may end up inflicting serious injury to yourself.
- Check out these websites selling instruments designed to cut packaging and keep you safe: http://www.wrapragecure.com/product.html ; http://www.myopenx.com/home.htm
When should you stay home and when to head to the ER:
According to Dr. Robb Leigh of Good Samaritan Hospital, Phoenix
- Get your injury checked out it’s to the back of the hand or arm
- Usually the inside tips of the fingers are okay. Bandage the injury. If it doesn’t look good after awhile, go see your doctor.
- If you think you’ve cut a tendon, go to the ER.
- A deep injury to the palm can be dangerous, go to the ER.
- If you aren’t sure, don’t be embarrassed – ask your physician if the injury is serious.
Click here to see Consumer Report’s “2007 hard-to-open packaging hall of shame”. The winners for worst packaging and the products Consumer Reports said are the easiest to open.
