A one-year-old baby almost lost her right arm after an escalator suddenly malfunctioned. The horrifying incident puts the spotlight on escalator accidents and safety, especially when it comes to little children.
Little Baby Nearly Loses Her Arm
According to the Shanghaiist, the accident happened at a shopping mall in Southern China.
The little girl was apparently playing on the steps, when the machine encountered a “sudden failure” and dragged her in. It isn’t clear if the child had been left unattended.
Thankfully, the escalator was stopped immediately. The baby’s arm had gotten trapped between the stairs and a side panel.
Videos of the scene are heart-breaking. The poor baby is seen screaming in pain, while a woman (who we assume is her mum), is seen desperately seeking help.
According to Kan Kan News, firefighters managed to free the child from the escalator after a 30-minute rescue effort. The child was rushed to hospital, where doctors found out that her arm had almost been ripped off.
There was only skin and soft tissue connecting the child’s arm and her torso.
She was then transferred to the No.1 People’s Hospital of Chenzhou for emergency surgery. The baby is currently undergoing treatment in the hospital’s ICU.
Photo: Sanxiang Urban Daily
Escalator Accidents on the Rise: Remember These Safety Tips
Parents, here are some important tips to keep in mind when it comes to escalator safety:
1. Before your child gets on
Make sure there are no loose strings on your child’s clothes that might get caught — mittens, ribbons, shoe laces, other clothing or dangling items.
2. Always hold on to your child’s hand
Have your kid face forward the whole time when standing on a moving escalator.
3. No play on board
Tell them to avoid the edge of the steps, and never let them play or sit on the steps.
4. Use a lift if you have a stroller
When you’re using a stroller, try to use the elevator as much as possible. In a study done across several years, there were 13,000 child-related injuries and accidents on escalators. Out of that number, 723 revolved around strollers.
In those cases, kids actually fell out of the stroller. It’s better to take a little time waiting for the elevator and be safe.
5. Lift your kids up
Your little ones may not have enough coordination or developmental skills to step off and instantly land on the platform — it takes good timing even as an adult.
If your toddler jumps off, they might lose their balance and fall. Always lift your toddler on and off the steps of the escalator.
6. Step over the “combs”
The combs are basically where the escalator steps vanishes into the floor below when you get on or off. There is a slight gap which might trap your kid’s toes. Avoid it completely by stepping over it every single time.
7. Right in the centre
Stand right in the middle if possible. It could be a tangled situation on either side of the escalator.
8. The type of shoes matters
Try to avoid wearing plastic shoes that are flexible and have holes — there have been reports of Crocs or similar types of footwear causing accidents. Your kid may slide their footwear along the side of the escalator, which causes friction and risks a wedged foot.
9. Scour your surroundings
Before you get on the escalator, look around you and be aware of what is going on. You might be busy attending to your kid, but do take a moment to mind the people around you and look out for risks.
You have to be aware of people in a hurry; they might shove you and your kid aside to get on. So, your best bet is to leave several empty steps empty before getting on with your child.
10. Watch your kids like a hawk
Your kid may get a little cheeky by sitting down, facing backwards or even picking up objects that may have fallen. This could be a disaster waiting to happen, especially near the end of the ride.
Sources: Shanghaiist, Kan Kan News
Also read: Tip of toddler’s penis gets ripped off in horrifying escalator accident
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