An awful thing happened at work today.

[Aurora63]

I work in a two-story department store. There is a pair of escalators, as well as two elevators, to get to the second floor.

Anyway, a two women came in, one was using a walker. They were in a department downstairs, and asked where the elevator was so they could go upstairs. The lady who helped them showed them, as it was just around the corner. They took the elevator up.

Then, when they wanted to come down, for some reason, they decide to use the escalator...this woman was using a walker...of course, it did not work, and she wound up falling all the way down the escalator. I thankfully did not see it, but someone said she was hurt bad and there was a lot of blood.

I don't know if she is okay now, I hope she is. She was a fairly old lady. Keep her in your thoughts.

 

[lynetteSC]

I work in a two story shopping center and my office is at the TOP of the UP escalator. We have so many accidents. People don't realize how dangerous they can be ... especially people with strollers and small children ... ugh! It is quite frustrating!
Hope this lady is ok!!!!

 

[RitaZ.]

Oh boy, I hope that lady is ok. Escalators are so dangerous. I have seen so many parents taking strollers on escalators, some even with a child in the stroller. I cringe whenever I see that.

I was at Sears last month with my kids and they wanted to take the escalator. I told them that we'd take the elevator instead. Another lady waiting for the elevator overheard what I said and told me that a few minutes earlier an elderly woman had fallen on the escalator. Apparently, the lady couldn't get up and they thought that she fractured her hip.

 

[FreshTressa]

Oh my....poor lady. I am glad you posted so I know to watch out for my mom and kids on them. I had no idea they were so dangerous.

 

[PamOKW]

That's awful sad. What were they thinking to take a walker on an escalator?

There are lots of little things that can be trouble on the escalators.....kids sneakers sometimes can stick and get caught in the intake at the end of the escalator. Loose shoe laces can also get caught in the mechanism. And, with winter coming, watch out for long coats and/or flowing skirts, these can also get caught in the mechanism of the step behind you or on the sides.

 

[browneyes]

I ride escalators, but I'm terrified of them.

I hope the lady is ok. Have you heard how badly she was injured?

 

[nativetxn]

Oh no! I hope she is alright.

 

[DISshopkeeper]

I have friend who is an elevator/escalator mechanic. He once told me that escalators are statistically the MOST dangerous piece of heavy equipment in the world. His family NEVER rides them.

 

[jamsmom]

I sure hope she was not injured too badly.

 

[MickeyCrazed]

This story made me cringe.
I hope she is OK.

 

[house_of_princesses]

escalators are statistically the MOST dangerous piece of heavy equipment in the world.

That's probably why the children are always clamoring to ride on them, and why I'm now banning them from use for our family!

 

[Minniespal]

Hope that she is ok.

 

[4cruisin]

My dh and I were at Foxwoods Casino a few months ago and while riding up an escalator I heard a commotion behind us. An elderly lady had fallen backwards on the escalator. Everyone was just staring at her and luckily my dh and I were almost at the very top so I was able to hit the emergency stop button. My dh and another man helped her up and carried her to the top while we waited for the casino personnel to arrive. Fortunately, she was alright, just shaken up a little bit. You would be surprised at how many people are not aware of where the emergency stop buttons for escalators are located. (They are on the outside of the rails at the top and bottom of each escalator.)

Nancy

 

[Dan Murphy]

Wow, sounds awful, Aurora. Hoping she is okay. I always remember playing on them as a kid, my mom yelling at me, LOL. As an adult, I know why she yelled at me.

And for those stop buttons, I never knew they were there till some years ago. I wish they had big signs letting people know they even exist, they are so well hidden, and no mention of them. The yshould be very prominent, like a fire alarm. Maybe behind a clear door or something, so kids don't fiddle with them, but still, more visible.

Again, Aurora, do hope the lady is heals quickly and completely.

Dan

 

[4cruisin]

Dan,

I agree that the stop buttons are not well marked and should be more visable. Escalators are very dangerous to everyone, young and old alike.

Nancy

 

[Jeafl]

At a local mall here some years ago a little girl with long hair fell on the escalator and got her hair caught. Unfortunately, by the time they could stop it, it had started to "scalp" her and she ended up with something like 300 stitches to reattach her scalp to her skull. I think about that everytime I am on an escalator.

 

[Aurora63]

Haven't heard anything yet, but she is a fairly regular customer, so I'm sure we will in time.

Nothing about it on the local news or in the paper, so I will take that as a good sign!

You know, in thinking about this, how fortunate that no one else was hurt when she fell. No one was in front of her on the escalator. My mom once had an incident on a "up" escalator where a woman's coat got caught, she was ahead of my mom, and kept yanking until it was free, which sent her flying backwards, knocking my mom down with her. How scary.

I have no idea why this woman thought that she could handle the escalator. My guess is that since she was looking at dresses, which are right by the escalators, she just didn't feel like walking back to the elevator, which are in two opposite corners of the store. I have a feeling she won't do that again. I'll post an updat if I hear anything else!