In Chengdu, China, a 61-year-old woman suffered a grievous injury after being struck by a car while crossing the street. The accident led to an unexpected and dangerous consequence—her hair claw, a common accessory, pierced her scalp. This incident underscores the potential hazards of wearing metal hair claws during accidents. The woman underwent two craniotomies and is currently in a vegetative state, as reported by her family.
Emergency physician Dr. Tian Fengming shared insights on the severity of the situation. Upon impact, the woman's head was thrust backward into a metal pole, causing the claw clip to lodge into her scalp. Despite being conscious upon hospital admission, half of the hair claw remained embedded painfully in her head. Dr. Tian emphasized the urgency and precision required, stating, "No mistakes were allowed." Remarkably, he and his team extracted the hair claw within ten minutes after administering anesthesia.
The alarming case in Chengdu is not an isolated incident. Similar accidents involving hair claws have been documented. In October, a 28-year-old woman in Sichuan province sustained a significant skull fracture after falling from an electric bike while wearing a hair claw. The clip left a 28cm gash from her scalp to her eyebrow, with fragments perilously close to vital brain areas.
These incidents have sparked discussions on the potential dangers of hair claws, particularly when worn during travel. A safety video released by China’s National Fire and Rescue Administration graphically demonstrated the risks, using a honeydew to show how sharp clips could penetrate deeply upon impact.
Dr. Tian noted that metal hair claws are especially hazardous because they are typically worn at the back of the head. In collisions, they can transform into dangerous projectiles, posing severe health risks. The public's reaction has been one of shock and concern. A user on Sina Weibo described the accident as "incredibly painful but also scary," while another said:
“Reading about this will give me nightmares. I am now officially terrified of my (hair claw) collection at home,” – a user with the handle unknown.
Social media has become a platform for sharing these harrowing experiences, as exemplified by Jeena Panesar, a 19-year-old from the UK. She took to TikTok to recount her terrifying ordeal with a hair claw, expressing gratitude for her relatively fortunate outcome:
“I was very lucky, it could have been so much worse,” – Jeena Panesar.
Her story resonated with many, with users expressing disbelief and fear over the seemingly innocuous accessory:
“Someone please tell me that this was just a freak (one-time) accident and happens to only this one poor woman in a million,” – a user with the handle ponytar.
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