Wringer Washing Machine Injuries

Abstract

Two hundred and ninety-three wringer machine injuries in Chicago and Evanston were reviewed. Many of these were serious enough to warrant hospitalization. Frequency and seriousness of wringer injuries requires development of further safety standards. The authors suggest the value of the "instinctive" release mechanism on these machines.

The Wringer Washing Machine: An Unusual Cause of Breast Trauma

“…2,4 There have been numerous reports of wringer washer machine injuries, with the sentinel report dating to 1938. [5][6][7][8][9][10][11][12][13][14][15][16][17][18][19] This report introduced the term "wringer arm" to describe the upper-extremity injury resulting from all or part of the arm being drawn between the rollers of a wringer washing machine, thus leading to injury of the skin, subcutaneous tissues, and muscles. 5 Reports of injuries caused by wringer washer machines increased in the 1940s and 1950s, and they sharply declined starting in the 1970s.…”

“…5 Reports of injuries caused by wringer washer machines increased in the 1940s and 1950s, and they sharply declined starting in the 1970s. [5][6][7][8][9][10][11][12][13][14][15][16][17][18][19] Wringer injuries occurred most frequently in children under the age of 10. The authors are not aware of any previous reports of wringer washer injuries involving the breast.…”