An emergency room doctor has warned that claw-style hair clips could cause devastating injuries if worn during a car crash, urging women to remove them before getting behind the wheel.
Dr Joe, who has worked in emergency rooms, shared his safety advice online about the popular accessory. He said: "A little friendly neighbourhood PSA (public service announcement) for women out there. Do you like to wear these? These claw-style hair clips?
"I've pulled several of these out of women's heads after car accidents. These little plastic things can be a real pain in the butt to get out from underneath the scalp once they're embedded."
Metal clips carry greater risk
Dr Joe continued by warning that metal clips could present an even greater risk, recalling a patient who sustained severe injuries following a collision.
He added: "Worse yet are the metal ones. I actually saw a patient once who had a metal hair clip in her head during a car accident. And afterwards, she had a skull fracture and a brain bleed."
The doctor encouraged women to take precautions when travelling by car, suggesting that choosing a different hair accessory might be a safer option. He added: "So make sure you're taking some precautions if you're in a car with these hair clips. It might be a better idea to use a different type of hair tie."
Head restraint interference
The positioning of a hair clip can potentially influence how a person's head rests against a vehicle's head restraint. During an impact or abrupt halt, a rigid clip may also contribute to head or neck trauma.
Removing a claw clip before getting behind the wheel could be a simple precaution, especially if it sits at the rear of the head where it might interfere with the head restraint.
Public reaction
Responding to his post, one user said: "Wow! Never thought of that!" Another user added: "I wear mine high, not on the back of my head. Good to know though!"
A third user said: "I use these, but I always take them out when I'm in a car because they're uncomfortable against the headrest anyway."
