Your Abilene Fire Department wants you and your family to be safe if you have a paper shredder. From January 2000 through December 2003, the CPSC received 31 reports involving finger amputations, lacerations, and other finger injuries from paper shredders. The majority of injuries were to young children, ages 14 months to 2 years old.

Young children are interested in imitating adult activities. This puts children at risk of injury. Children may activate the shredder when an adult is not present.

Injuries can occur even when an adult is supervising a child. Children’s fingers can be pulled into the paper shredding mechanism if they don’t let the paper go.

Safety tips when using a paper shredder:

• Never allow children to operate paper shredders, even under adult supervision. Paper shredders can pull children’s fingers into the shredder mechanism.
• Place the paper shredder in an area less accessible to children.
• Unplug the paper shredder power cord when not in use.
• Do not place hands or fingers in the shredder.
• Do not operate a paper shredder while wearing loose fitting clothing that may enter the shredder opening.
• If wearing a tie or long necklace, use caution to keep these items away from the shredder opening.