Posted on 07/04/2010 5:17:22 AM PDT by sodpoodle
The escalator is currently not in use, confirmed Macy's spokeswoman Elina Kazan.
Wooden escalators have been in operation at the store since 1927.
Two other children have had fingers chopped off by Macy's escalators in recent years.
A four-year-old girl had her right index finger sliced off Oct. 16, 2005, when she tripped at the top step while riding with her father to the third floor. And a two-year-old boy had his left thumb partially severed Dec. 24, 2006, as he rode up to the fourth floor.
"I'm going to try my best to make them remove them and put in better escalators," said Gell-Tejada.
(Excerpt) Read more at foxnews.com ...
Maybe cracks have developed in the old escalator because of the settling and shifting of the old building. Cracks that tiny fingers could fit into.
Good points.
The public has certainly been made aware of liability lawsuits and our increasingly litigious society is evidence.
Has it caused us to be more reckless in our behavior and less protective of our children?
Do we believe that no matter what tragedy befalls us - we are wholly blameless, that someone else is at fault and should pay to make us whole?
Modern escalators can also be quite treacherous. They have warning signs and emergency buttons - but still snag careless shoelaces because moving parts actually move;)
No. My husband is an elevator troubleshooter and has, on occasion, worked on an escalator. They routinely eat shoes and packages because idiots think they are toys. Or a fun ride.
And parents are getting dumber.
A state inspector would shut it down in a heartbeat.
Make that city inspector.
This is a question of facts not an idealogical question in my view. Is Macy’s negligent or even reckless in operating that escalator? I don’t think we have the facts to know the answer.
And parents are getting dumber.
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Nope. IQ is actually increasing : P
24 posts and no mallrats references? Cmon people
ANY escalator will rip a childs finger if they drag them on the side near a handrail. Those handrails are simply large belts. Remember the loose shoelace fad? Escalators ripped the shoes off of peoples feet because the teeth grabbed them. And the Croc shoe fad. There was a rash of children hurt on escalators while wearing Crocs. Escalators are not amusement rides but parents let their kids "horse around" on them and they DON'T watch their hands.
You get my point; whether Macy’s is negligent requires more facts to fairly evaluate. I agree with you that parents should be careful with children on escalators and the parent can be negligent and responsible for the injury of their child.
Correct! We are having an open ended discussion on a forum.
It is an opportunity to examine the facts as we know them, what caused this injury, the behavior, the environment, the law, the rules, justice, the biases and belief systems that guide our individual sense of responsibility etc., etc.,
continue.
Parents don't teach their kids the basics anymore and blame everyone else when they choke on hot dogs or run their fingers on the moving parts of an escalator.
The pics that ErnBatavia posted show modern handrails. So it isn't the escalators age.
They are quite lovely and must have been well maintained to have functioned for almost a century.
I expect we should demand they be removed and be replaced with metal toe grinders;) Splinters are so yesterday!
LOL!!!
I grew up scared to death of escalators. I was told they would eat toes and fingers.
Gotta love the scene from “Elf” in which Buddy rides an escalator for the first time.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z1jaCR_rAzg
Video of Macy’s wooden escalator.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ImdQ0jkpEYE
LOL!!! I used to get my heels caught in between the wood ones.
*scratches head*
I wear crocs (ugly, but so comfy!) and I’m not seeing how this one goes. If your shoes fit properly and you step lively when you’re supposed to rather than shuffling like a drunk, that shoe isn’t going anywhere or getting caught on a properly maintained escalator.
Unless you’re a kid and walk out of them while getting off. Actually I didn’t pay a lot of attention as to how the accidents with kids happened. I don’t wear Crocs and my kids are adults.
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