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 consequences. Six patients who sustained finger injuries in some of London's Royal Parks during the Summer are presented together with data from the Department of Trade and Industry suggesting that, taken throughout the country as a whole, large numbers of injuries may be occurring. Notably, four of our patients were foreign tourists who may be less familiar with the traditional wooden folding deck-chair. Surprisingly no British Standards Institute (BSI) guidelines exist relating to deck-chair safety. These finger injuries can have marked morbidity if they involve victims who depend upon manual dexterity in their work or hobbies.