Physician's Assistant Reveals Horrifying Reason You Shouldn't Wear Claw Clips in the Car, But Doctor Disagrees
PEOPLE spoke with ER Emily and Dr. Jared L. Ross about what the risks are of wearing a claw clip while driving
Emergency Room Emily/TikTok
EREmily (L), Stock image of a claw clip in a woman's hair (R)A popular hair accessory can be a real danger to you in the event of a car accident.
In a TikTok sharing her tips from the emergency room, emergency department physician assistant EmilyER explains why claw clips can be extremely dangerous, particularly to front-seat passengers.
Posing with a claw clip in each hand, Emily says, "Did you know that we have to surgically remove these from patients' skulls?"
She advises, "Take these out when you drive and put in your rubber bands or scrunchies or something."
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Warnings about the clips have circulated TikTok, going viral as drivers weigh in on whether or not they feel the hair accessories can really cause damage despite these warnings.
PEOPLE spoke with emergency medicine physician Dr. Jared L. Ross about the claims.
"It is possible that claw clips can hurt you in a crash, but the chances are very low," Dr. Ross tells PEOPLE.
"Jewelry and fashion accessories are common entrapment hazards. We typically see this with metal rings and bracelets for people working around machinery. This is why many people who work in those situations choose to wear silicone wedding bands and bracelets that will quickly break away if they become entangled," he says.
S Rawu Th Ni Rothr / EyeEm / Getty Images
Stock image of woman with in-ear headphones on drivingWhen it comes to "implement injuries," Dr. Ross says they are more likely to occur "in an industrial setting rather than motor vehicle collisions."
"Making sure that heavy objects such as gym weights, propane tanks or even dogs are properly secured is much more important than removing plastic claw clips. These clips tend to be made of inexpensive plastic and typically break harmlessly if impacted," he says.
That said, there are risks that drivers should be mindful of, such as distractions they can avoid.
"The real risk for drivers is losing focus on the road because of things like phones, in-car screens, kids or pets. Doing other things while driving, like eating, putting on make-up or talking (even with hands-free devices) can distract you," Dr. Ross shares.
"Anything that is not tied down in the car can become a projectile in a crash. We often see blunt trauma injuries from objects like backpacks, coffee mugs, laptops and books. However, some things, like glasses or sunglasses, can also break and cut you."
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