We sometimes
hear about shoelaces and scarves getting stuck in escalators, but a close call
at an Edmonton shopping mall has one parent warning others about the potential
dangers of a certain kind of footwear: rubber boots.
Tianna Grenier
was holding her daughter Chanelle’s hand as they rode the escalator, when she
suddenly heard some squeaking.
“I assumed
she was goofing around and so I said, ‘oh, you’ve got to be careful.’ And she
started screaming at that moment…I looked down and I saw the boot, the side,
being sucked in.”
“She just
started screaming, ‘mommy, ow; mommy, ow; help, help, help!”
Unable to pull
her daughter’s foot out of the rubber boot, the mother started yelling for
help. Other
shoppers pushed the emergency stop button, and an employee working nearby ran
over with an Exacto knife. The mom used it to carefully cut off the boot, which
had tightened around her daughter’s foot, while another shopper helped keep her
daughter calm.
The crowd erupted
into applause as soon as the young girl’s foot was freed. Aside from
being a little shaken up, Chanelle was fine. But she’s not the only one this
has happened to.
There have been instances around the world of plastic or
rubber shoes getting caught in escalators. To avoid
future cases, experts say it’s not enough to just be careful while getting on
and off an escalator; the sides can pose risks as well.
“Many of the new
shoe products…rubber boots, soft rubber sandals and all those types of new
materials, they don’t have the rigidity that traditional shoes had,” explained
Gary McCartney of West Edmonton Mall’s Safety and Security team.
Based on
what McCartney sometimes sees on surveillance footage, he believes not enough
people respect escalators for what they are: a mechanical device with moving
parts.
Aside from paying
more attention, experts recommend the following:
Escalator Safety Tips
1. Step on and
off quickly and carefully.
2. Hold the
handrail.
3. Stand facing
forward.
4. Keep hands,
feet and clothing clear of moving parts.
5. Always wear
shoes on escalator. No loose clothing or shoelaces.
6. Passengers
only. No strollers, carts or large packages.
7. Hold the hand
of young children.
Grenier
says that while she’s heard of loose clothing and shoelaces being potentially
hazardous on escalators, she had never heard about rubber boots.
“I thought
I had all my bases covered, I’m always really careful on escalators with the
kids,” she said. “It was just one of those bizarre accidents that happened, and
we are just so thankful that she’s ok.”
“If I can help
one parent not have that happen again, that’s what I will do.”
By Patricia Kozicka Global
News
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