If you fall on an escalator, it can quickly become dangerous. If long scarves and loose shoelaces get caught in the stairs, there is also a risk of injury Photo: picture alliance/dpa
From BZ/dpa
Who doesn’t know it – traffic jams on the escalator: why it’s still better not to jostle – and scarves and shoelaces deserve some attention before the ride.
Children like to ride up and down for fun. Adults do this to save themselves climbing the stairs in shopping centers, train stations and the like. But before you step onto an escalator, you should straighten your clothes.
Because open shoelaces and long scarves can be pulled in in the area of the steps or on the handrail.
This is indicated by the TÜV Thuringia. If the drawn-in scarf tightens around the neck before the stairs can be stopped, there is even a danger to life.
If you wear rubber boots or sneakers made of soft plastic, it is better to stand in the middle of the escalator.
Otherwise there is a risk that the soft, deformable plastic of the shoes can be pulled into the gap between the step and the balustrade – without the escalator’s safety device being able to trigger in time.
The general rule is: do not bump into or bump into escalators and make sure you keep a sufficient distance from other passengers when overtaking. In the event of a fall, the movement of the escalator can result in crush injuries or even the amputation of limbs.
Small children should therefore always be held by the hand on the escalator. Dogs are safer when carried on the arm.