The Escalator

Have you even been on an escalator? Have you taken the escalator for granted to be able to travel from one floor to another?

Most of us sometimes whilst shopping, or perpetually on a rush from one place to another, being fleet footed, would just get on an escalator hoping to be able to "get up there" or "get down there" in the fastest time possible. I remember squeezing past numerous people, with constant "excuse me, excuse me" despite the silent code of either standing on the right or on the left (depending upon which country you are in), or even worse, NO CODE, and stand as though the entire escalator belongs to you and block the passageway for those in a rush. Shock, horror, but it happens and is prevalent.

At times, I have seen those from the kampungs or outskirts of town, journeying to this big bad concrete jungle, experiencing their first adventure on the escalator. The constant hesitation of getting on the steps given the perpetual endless motion of the moving steps, and expletives of "Oh mak pocot, eh, ai" and the likes, exclaimed to still the beating heart and brave the moving monster. How many of you have smiled or made a chuckle or two as you moved about watching the scene without even lending a hand in assistance?

Seriously, sometimes for us able folks, we take things for granted literally. Balance for adults generally as we stand or move is not an issue. But for kids and the elderly, the whole experience can be a simple joy or a neverending nightmare.

Those tiny gaps on the side of the escalator may appear small, but to a child, the gap may be sufficient to snap off a finger of two, or even pull out the nails of a finger or toe to causing heavy bleeding which may or may not require a rush to the emergency ward for the necessary stitches to stem the potential gory wound. "Ewww", and yes, precisely the feeling I would have just thinking about it, and the thought of a young child hurt in such an accident is enough to create a pounding heart. Am sure most would have heard of some accident or two regarding moving escalators, but have any taken the time to think about the consequences? Yes, there are definitely numerous horrific stories of children's shoes getting caught, ripping out the nails of the big toe and such. Just google it, and you may be alarmed at the increasing rate of such incidents. Or is this just another "Oh, poor child, NEXT".... until it happens to someone you know, or unless you have empathic feelings, it is just another story you read in the papers.

Well, you see, I received a phone call last Sunday from my sibling, who heard it from another cousin, who heard it from my cousin's mother (and now you see how news travel really fast), that my 2-year old niece (another cousin's daughter), lost her balance on a moving escalator in a shopping mall, hands extended to catch herself from falling flat on the escalator, and got her right pinky caught on those "minute" gaps of the moving escalator! The horror, the chills...

Suffice to say, it was a harrowing experience for the parents and my little niece, who luckily did not lose her finger, but needed to be rushed to the operating theatre for stitches. And no, medical expenses are not cheap, with private hospitals taking the general public for a ride by charging every little "whatevers" to boost their bottom line.

Do I hear the words, "Sue the company! Sue the company!"? Well, this being the land of questionable judicial processes, the time taken to complete the case may very well end when my niece is in her teens. Think of all the legal costs involved and no certainty of a winning case either (at least not in this wonderful land we call our country). However, the case has been highlighted to the management of the mall, and yes, they view the case as serious and of course, wishes to avoid negative publicity.

Was there sufficient signages to be careful? Even if there were, we, in our perpetual desire to get from one place to another but with constant swirling thoughts of other more engaging matters, may not have noticed those ever important reminders posted to "Be careful". Seriously, I challenge you now to think of that escalator which you may have recently taken. Was there any warning sign? Did you just walk pass? Did you take notice? What did it look like?

For the elderly, the whole case is also not a laughing matter. Brittle bones with slowness in reflexes, the dangers of an accident becomes intensified. For the aged mums and dads, aunties and uncles, the challenge to go on the escalators gets more pronounced as time goes by. Be good, don't just go first, look back and smile at them. Don't flaunt the vagaries of youth. Do lend a helping hand and be someone's guardian angel for a change.