Crocs can be dangerous

[eeyoregirl1970]

I don't wear them myself, but I always notice people post about their comfort so this story in my area caught my attention:

TYSON'S CORNER, Va. -- A 4-year-old boy was injured Friday, and his parents blamed his shoes.

He was wearing footwear called Crocs when his foot got caught in a Tyson's Galleria Mall escalator.

"He was standing still; his foot wasn't near this edge," mother Jodi McDermott said. "It was (the left side) of the shoe, so it pulled and twisted the shoe in. It pulled the big toe over and it essentially ripped the toenail off except for one little corner. That's where all the blood was from."

An ambulance was called to the mall, and 4-year-old Rory McDermott was taken to the emergency room at a local hospital.

The doctor confirmed the boy's big toenail had been ripped off almost completely.

"When we got to the hospital, they said this is actually a common occurrence with Crocs," McDermott said.

She said she went online and found other reports of accidents similar to the one that happened to her son.

"The kids love them," she said. "They're easy to put on. You think they're safer than the flip flop because they can keep them on their foot."

She said she thinks the makers of Crocs should issue a warning about the potential dangers of wearing them on an escalator.

"I just wanted to tell everyone that these Crocs are so dangerous on an escalator, and it could have been so much worse," McDermott said.

The makers of Crocs maintain their shoes are safe. They said they blame the escalators for the problems.

 

[pednurse]

Actually, just about any shoe is dangerous with escalators. Crocs can get caught, flip flops can get caught, shoe strings get caught......just about any shoe can get caught in some way. People just need to be very vigilant when riding on escalators, and unfortunately most of the time they're not. Personally I prefer to take the stairs or wait for an elevator, especially if I have my kids with me (DS tends to let his shoes come untied almost constantly and DD is terrified of "moving stairs").

 

[WildGrits]

I have to agree with Pednurse.

Remember those red rubber we use to put over our shoes in the rain? Yes I know I am dating myself.

Well, the escalator at Macy's ate one off my foot when I was little.

So it is not a new thing.

 

[juju]

in my younger years, I worked on complaints at a local upscale mall. The escalator would eat shoes on a regular basis and all types of shoes. However, as much as we would try and try to duplicate scenarios where this would happen, we never could and couldn't figure out a consistent explanation.

 

[Accentuate+]

My mother hammered the fear of an escalator eating my foot off so deep into my head that today, at 38, I still look like an absolute dork trying to jump over the 'teeth' whenever I get on or off one.

I have a friend whose mother did an even better job. She refuses to 'ride' any sort of escalator or moving sidewalk. She'll go up any stairs and as far out of her way as she has to to avoid them.

I always wondered if it was a valid concern or an urban legend blown out of proportion. Sounds like I need to keep jumping.
Poor kid, glad it was the toenail and not the toe, though.

 

[KimAshton]

Ouch I just cringed.

 

[disneypalgal]

At one of our local malls there are bright warning stickers about crocs on all escalators. Now, reading this, I know why!

P.

 

[WhyIsTheRUMGone?]

I guess our mothers didn't put entirely unreasonable fears into us!

Crocs are very comfortable, but you have to remember they are a light-duty shoe, like sandals or moccassins. I've actually had small sticks pierce the soles!

 

[nyyankeegirl]

I agree that escalators are dangerous for all types of shoes-- not just Crocs. I even recently read a thread from a Mom about her daughter at Disney having her Nike or Adidas shoe eaten in Epcot. It can happen to many types of shoes. I guess I need to teach my boys about the possible dangers.

 

[billwendy]

poor kiddo - glad he is okay!!

dont most escalators have warnings about rubber soled shoes? i always keep the kids right in the middle...i have actually had clothing get caught in the side of the escalator and tear a big hole!!!

 

[10_Kyle_10]

Regardless CROCS are UGLY!

ps. their stock tanked yesterday...

 

[10_Kyle_10]

Take nothing away from the boy, glad hes ok!

 

[happymommy]

I saw a little girl caught in the escalator at Ala Moana shopping center years ago - she was in flip flops. She was actually stuck and the firefighters were called in to free her. It was very frightening. Good to know to be careful on them in any light shoe like that!

 

[webshark3]

All our local schools banned crocs along with flip-flops and most sandels. Too many stair-related accidents.

 

[GBShorts]

I saw a little girl caught in the escalator at Ala Moana shopping center years ago - she was in flip flops. She was actually stuck and the firefighters were called in to free her. It was very frightening. Good to know to be careful on them in any light shoe like that!

Totally off topic, but hey, I've been there!

 

[sk8jdgca]

my dauhgter was running a race with a friend in her crocs, one croc flew off, not wanting to lose the race she kept going and ran over a large piece of glass, had a 2 inch gash in the bottom of her foot...now our rule is no runnign in crocs ...and if you do stop when one flies off