Story:
This is a story that comes with a cartoon picture showing a child’s foot getting stuck in an escalator because of her tiny shoes, claiming that one needs to be very careful with children while moving on an escalator as they are often prone to such accidents.
Analysis:
This particular story questions escalator safety, highlighting the accidents of children on escalators started spreading through emails few years back. It is a fact that everyone needs to take care of. Children have suffered injuries because of their shoes getting stuck in escalators, especially at the busy public places like railway stations and shopping malls. The video below explains how escalator accidents can happen.
According to a 2009 report of CBS News, about 10,000 people are prone to serious escalator accidents every year, out of which many are children. There have been many cases reported about children injured in escalators over the past few years.
A research on these escalator accidents shows that they happen in the case of certain type of children shoes that are padded with rubbery sole at the bottom, mostly in the shape of a rampart wall that gets stuck in the linings or corners of an escalator. Such accidents also happen in the case of soft sided children shoes, especially the soft soled Croc shoes and other shoes that come as colorful rubber clogs.
Many such accidents happen when the children’s clothing gets stuck in escalators. Also, sometimes, children who are left alone on escalators can get into some kind of adventure and become victims of accidents. The video below shows one such accident in Turkey.
Safety Tips to Avoid Escalator Accidents:
- Never let your child move alone on an escalator.
- Do not let them sit or play around while moving on an escalator.
- Make sure the shoe laces of your child are properly tied, because they can easily get stuck in escalators. Also avoid children moving on bear foot over escalators, as they are vulnerable to injuries.
- When you are doubtful about the soft soled, spongy shoes of your children, it is better to avoid escalators and take an elevator or a staircase.
- Make sure your child is always facing forward, avoiding the corners of the escalator and holding onto the handrails of the escalator. This will give him good grip and reduces the chances of accidents.
- For safety on escalator, make sure you hold onto your child while moving, and when the child is wearing long or loose clothing, make sure to hold it carefully.
- If your child’s clothing gets stuck in escalator, pull it off quickly, if it does not come out, make sure you remove your child’s clothing immediately.
- Be aware of the location of emergency shut-off button in escalators to stop it whenever any accident happens.
Hoax or Fact:
Fact.
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