A friends's jacket got caught in an escalator.

[Swede]

He's not sure how,but it caught the sleeve and would not let go. At the bottom it flipped him onto his head and knocked him out. He's got a cracked skull and blood on the brain.

[Maat]

1. Oh, I'm praying he's going to heal quickly.

God bless him! Sorry about the accident.

[Radio_Lady]

2. Didn't someone think to push the emergency switch?

That would have stopped the escalator. All models have them these days. I'm sorry to hear of this injury.

[Swede]

3. He checked himself out of the hospital.

He's got a shaved head, U shaped stitched up scars. He was walking around like he'd been in a car accident.

[Maat]

5. Ummm ... this recent law graduate wants to know ...

is he going to be consulting a lawyer soon?

I'm glad he's been able to check out and all.

Whoa. I'm always a bit concerned when my 8-year-old rides on one. I think I've got it now - make sure clothing is far away from the moving parts, as well as, of course, making sure she holds on. Careful stepping on and off, and ... from the poster above ... make sure I figure out where the emergency switch is.

[Swede]

7. His dad has contacted a lawyer.

Where the heck is that switch?

[MissB]

11. Usually at the top or bottom of the escalator.

[Kingshakabobo]

13. They are located at about knee level....

at both the top and bottom of the escalator. The switches are hard to see if you aren't looking for them.

[amazona]

9. emergency switch

May I ask WHERE?

Thank you for nipping a long-time phobia in the bud...

The conservation movement is a breeding ground of communists
and other subversives. We intend to clean them out,
even if it means rounding up every birdwatcher in the country.
--John Mitchell, US Attorney General 1969-72

[halobeam]

4. omg

Once I rode one and it jerked DEAD STOP. If the guy behind me didn't catch me I would've been seriously hurt.

Those things are freakin' dangerous man. Any loose clothing, pocketbook straps, shoelaces, etc... People don't realize what these things can really do.

I never knew you could emergency stop one. Is that well known?


I truly hope your friend finds a speedy recovery, and I hope you are alright too.

[bridgit]

6. damn, that's fucked up shit...

[amazona]

8. OMG

I am so paranoid of this happening. I have a good friend who yells at me because I don't like the escalator. I hope your friend is OK, a head injury is no joke.

The conservation movement is a breeding ground of communists
and other subversives. We intend to clean them out,
even if it means rounding up every birdwatcher in the country.
--John Mitchell, US Attorney General 1969-72

[MissB]

10. Back in the very late 80's

my friends and I were at a mall and watched a small boy (maybe 6-ish) get stuck at the bottom of the escalator. He was standing on the escalator with an older woman, and he fell down at the end. His shirt got stuck at the bottom, and part of his stomach was sucked in as well.

It took several minutes for the escalator to be shut off. As a bystander, I was horrified- there was literally nothing any of us could do, but watch. The kid seemed to survive the ordeal.

I cannot recall a time in the last 10 years or so that I've seen an escalator *without* an emergency shutoff button.

[TroubleMan]

12. That's scary.

That's like a nightmare or something.

I hope your friend ends up ok.