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‘Don’t Let this Happen to You’: Escalator Traps Teen’s Fingers as He Tries to Unstick Flip-Flop

Ye be warned. Rubber shoes — flip flops, crocks, etc. — and escalators do not mix. A Canadian tourist visiting Washington, D.C. this week learned that lesson the hard way.

According to MyFoxDC, a 14-year-old boy was riding down the escalator to the Smithsonian metro station when his flip-flop got stuck in the combs of the escalator’s step. Reaching down to pull out his footwear, his fingers then became wedged painfully into the metal tines for about 40 minutes.

Canadian Tourists Fingers Injured by D.C. Escalator as He Tried to Free Stuck Flip Flop

Fire fighters and metro workers help free the boy's fingers from the escalator. (Photo: MyFoxDC)

He had to be taken to the hospital for treatment but metro spokesperson Dan Stessel said the injuries were not life-threatening. The escalator though is now out of service as it is being investigated.

Watch the MyFoxDC report:

DC Breaking Local News Weather Sports FOX 5 WTTG

The Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority points to a summer escalator safety tip sheet, which says:

Flip-flops, Crocs and other soft, rubbery footwear can actually sink into the escalator step as you’re riding it. This creates a greater potential for your footwear to go under the comb plate (the yellow teeth at the top and bottom of the escalator). Don’t let this happen to you. If you choose to wear rubbery footwear, be sure to take extra care to step over the comb plate as you get on and off the escalator.

In fact, escalators are just a dangerous place in general. This is the second story on The Blaze within 24 hours regarding an escalator accident. The first was a woman in Boston flipping over in a motor scooter as she tried to ride it up the moving stairs.

Featured image via Shutterstock.

(H/T: Daily Mail)

Comments (44)

1 2
  • VTDave
    Posted on July 20, 2012 at 2:00pm

    I got the toe end of the sole of one of my Nike sneakers sucked into the fingers at the top of an escalator at Filene’s in Boston about 30 years ago when I was a teen. I went to get off and my right foot didn’t want to come with me. A maintenance guy told my mother to take me up to customer service and they would take care of it. They gave me a voucher and told me to go to the shoe department after which I left with a brand new pair of sneakers.

    Report Post » VTDave  
  • thegreatcarnac
    Posted on July 20, 2012 at 11:30am

    The first escalator I can remember riding was when I was about 3 or 4 years old. It was a department store and I was being dragged along by my mother on one of her shopping trips. It was getting close to Christmas and the decorations and music of Christmas filled the store. I can only remember the occasion only in quick ‘pictures’ in my mind. It was a long time ago. I had to ride the escalator to go up to the floor that Santa was on. We got in line and finally told Santa what I wanted for Christmas. I was amazed. What amazed me more was the ride down on the escalator. I could see the whole bottom floor of the store from the top of that escalator. I liked the feeling of gliding down to the bottom. I could just see over the top of the solid side railing and the store looked wonderful from up there.

    Report Post »  
  • Obamujahadeen
    Posted on July 20, 2012 at 8:34am

    Man I was in printing for 20 years and got some fingers jammed under an hydraulic paper cutter’s clamp, not the blade but the clamp malfunctioned and came down quickly as opposed to a creeping lowering it usually does or did.

    That‘s when I was 23 in 89 and if that happened to many they’d sue for this and that but I didn’t. I didn’t wanna help put the guy out of business, really never crossed my mind.

    Be the first thing in many obot‘s heads that’s for sure. CHa Ching. Who can I sue for me being an idiot? AHAHH!! There’s some deep pockets!! Now where‘s ’Jackie Childs”? (Seinfeld Johnny Cockroach lawyer character btw)

    Report Post » Obamujahadeen  
  • kcares
    Posted on July 20, 2012 at 8:06am

    Now escalators will be off limits because we have such stupid people in the US now. I’ve told my daughters for years that they are going to have problems for wearing flip flops, but do they listen?
    My niece wore flip flops on a Croomes Disease walk and got so many blisters she couldn’t walk for a week. I get so tired of stupid people. There is no conversation you can have with them that has any meaning. Showing their painted toe nails is more important to them than safety and control.

    Report Post » kcares  
  • dvwrld
    Posted on July 20, 2012 at 7:58am

    Those devious Escalators. Time to outlaw them!

    Report Post » dvwrld  
    • rlimike
      Posted on July 21, 2012 at 12:47pm

      If they outlaw escalators only outlaws will have escalators.

      Report Post » rlimike  
  • sdeakins
    Posted on July 20, 2012 at 7:49am

    When I was 14 boys didn’t wear flip-flops unless of course you were lite in the loafers.

    Report Post » sdeakins  
  • Shoot2Stop
    Posted on July 20, 2012 at 7:04am

    To the kid, and all those traumatized by modern machinery… You got to be smarter than the devices you elect to use.

    And then there was the blond who, during a power failure, was trapped on an escalator for three hours.

    .

    Report Post »  
  • jvlag3
    Posted on July 20, 2012 at 6:46am

    I try to tell my wife an daughter not to drive with flip flops, but they both know better than me…they are truely a dangerous form of footwear that should be limited to showers and beaches (once you get there)…

    Report Post »  
    • loriann12
      Posted on July 20, 2012 at 6:54am

      My dad drilled that into my head as a teen, just like stopping at stop sign and using my blinkers. To this day, I feel guilty wearing SANDALS while driving. And I see motorcyclists wearing flip flops.

      Report Post »  
  • bitter.clinger
    Posted on July 20, 2012 at 6:42am

    Strange that we suddenly see multiple stories on the internet regarding “Evil Escalators”…these things probably happen regularly in a country this large – so what’s next on the Progressive Agenda plate? 60 Minutes and 20/20 will push stories on those Waskily Escalators…and then Obama/Cass Sunstein will come out and say “I…I…I don’t want to take over the escalators…but…I have to…” If Progressives manufactured escalators they look more like a well-greased slide and would only go down. They don’t like any of us little surfs rising up out of the swamp of government dependency.

    Report Post »  
  • Godzgrl247
    Posted on July 20, 2012 at 5:45am

    One of my horrible memories from childhood was THE MEAN OL’ SCARY ESCALATOR. I was a country kid so when we went to the mall and I rode the escalator for the first time, I was so scarred by the movement that I sat down. My mom was a few steps behind me and kept yelling at me to stand up. I didn’t and sure enough, the escalator pinched me as I tried to get up. I learned not to sit down after that! (BTW My mom and my sister would ride beside me and lift me by my hands before we got to the bottom after that. I’d jump over the big yellow line.)

    Report Post » Godzgrl247  
  • Abigail Adams
    Posted on July 20, 2012 at 3:58am

    When we were 5 my cousin was school shopping with his mom for his first day of kindergarten. He was wearing his brand new school shoes when his shoelace was caught in the escalator. He lost a couple toes that day.
    This is why I am nervous bringing my kids on escalators. They know the story well. And while we do wear Crocs on escalators, we keep our feet in the middle of the stairs and make a game of jumping off when we come to the end.
    It’s all about being aware. That’s what keeps us safe.
    Thank God this kid didn’t lose any fingers.

    Report Post » Abigail Adams  
  • KyleD
    Posted on July 20, 2012 at 3:17am

    Somehow this reminds me of how you catch raccoons.

    Report Post »  
  • LameLiberals
    Posted on July 20, 2012 at 3:10am

    At least he didn’t try to take a electric wheelchair up the escalator like that woman The Blaze featured yesterday doing.

    Report Post »  
  • theromba
    Posted on July 20, 2012 at 2:43am

    Flip flops serve 2 purposes, only 2.

    1 Getting from your car to the ocean, without stepping in the scorching sand.

    2 Taking a shower in communal showers

    The rest of the time, they just look silly, inappropriate or worse. Every time I see someone wearing them, I want to challenge them to a race to remind them how screwed they are if they ever need to run for any reason.

    Report Post »  
    • Chet Hempstead
      Posted on July 20, 2012 at 2:54am

      If you have to run, you can ditch them and run barefoot. You might cut your feet, but if speed is the main concern, it’s just as fast as running with running shoes, and much faster than running in boots, leather dress shoes or women’s shoes.

      Report Post »  
    • Matt
      Posted on July 20, 2012 at 3:18am

      You forgot the third thing that flip flops are good for. Getting elected.

      Report Post »  
    • loriann12
      Posted on July 20, 2012 at 6:59am

      My dad would have beat me (well, maybe talked sternly to me, but I felt he would have spanked me even as a teen) if I drove in flip-flops. He said he’d rather me drive bare foot than with flip flops that could slip off my foot. As a teen, if I wore flip flops, I’d slip off the right one and leave it on the floor board while I drove, then slip it back on when I got out. Now I don’t even attempt it, makes me cringe. But at almost 50 I need more support than a flip flop can give.

      Report Post »  
  • Exrepublisheep
    Posted on July 20, 2012 at 2:06am

    HOW CAN OBAMA LET THIS HAPPEN????? Nazis! COMMIES!!!!

    Report Post » Exrepublisheep  
  • tangonine
    Posted on July 20, 2012 at 1:42am

    flip flops I can sort of deal with. But the crocs? Yeah. ever single person I’ve ever seen wearing crocs looked like a card carrying dumb###. Every. One. Men, women, children. All of them. Dumb###es.

    Report Post »  
    • GlezeleVayne
      Posted on July 20, 2012 at 4:01am

      They do look stupid. But…they are fantastic in the rain, when I am out working in the rain or gardening, I don’t care how dumb I look. Very comfy and they don’t sustain damage. They were meant as boating shoes. Other than those times, I am usually more dignified. No — really.

      Report Post »  
    • sawbuck
      Posted on July 20, 2012 at 6:22am

      The next time your in the hospital and you see a doctor or surgeon walking around..
      Look at his feet …LOL …be afraid very afraid..

      Report Post » sawbuck  
  • tangonine
    Posted on July 20, 2012 at 1:36am

    Knock Knock

    “Who is it?”

    “Natural Selection, flip flop boy.”

    Report Post »  
  • Skrewedretiree
    Posted on July 20, 2012 at 1:28am

    The same people who would wear flip-flops on an escalator are the same people who would vote Democrat and think the Democrats should tell us how we should live.

    They are right. However, only for themselves and their limited mental capacity.

    The rest of us pull our pants up and wear shoes. We vote for Conservatives and Freedom, even if it means someone else is free to be stupid. See the above.

    Report Post » Skrewedretiree  
  • Coalition4MoralDecency
    Posted on July 20, 2012 at 1:17am

    @ Applebite – you are a lucky individual if you have not seen flip flops for over 20 years – I live in UT and you would think the whole dang state is the beach or pool with how many idiots wear them and I am talking kids up to seniors in age – The sound of them smacking when indoors just absolutely drives me up a wall and I am sorry but adults look like idiots wearing them – especially the church crowd on Sundays

    Report Post »  
    • historyguy48
      Posted on July 20, 2012 at 6:01am

      Comrade I’ve been to Utah and the whole state pretty much is a beach, only it’s missing the water, unless you are into salt that is.
      Actually it is a beautiful state although hotter than I like it in the summer.

      Report Post » historyguy48  
  • face.chewer
    Posted on July 20, 2012 at 12:49am

    I am careful to reach down and pull my genitalia up a bit when riding the escalator so as not to snag anything.

    Report Post »  
  • valarie
    Posted on July 20, 2012 at 12:42am

    Well, thank God it wasn’t an “urban youth” as there would be massive lawsuits flying as we speak as well as racially charged accusations regarding the Smithsonian.

    Report Post » valarie  
  • ccprotect
    Posted on July 19, 2012 at 11:57pm

    a teen aged boy wearing flip-flops. sounds like he deserved it.

    Report Post » ccprotect  
  • Darmok and Jalad at Tanagra
    Posted on July 19, 2012 at 11:54pm

    So, now we are maiming our Canadian richer Nieghbors? Well they do have free healthcare. Besides, everyone knows, you only wear da flip flops at da beach. Sandals are for wearing out. LoLo Head.

    Report Post » Darmok and Jalad at Tanagra  
  • Rayford
    Posted on July 19, 2012 at 11:30pm

    If i ever go to a place that has one of those I always am looking at the teeth at the bottom and jump over them. When I was 4 or 5 I was on one and was rubbing the end of my tennis shoe on the edge of the escalator as it went down. It made a squeaky noise, nothing loud but it captured my attention.

    Somewhere along the ride, my shoe got sucked into the machine, I screamed like heck and the machine got shut off by someone hitting the emergency button. It scared the crap out of me but I didnt get hurt. My shoe was ruined though. The mall people gave me a new pair of shoes and sent me on my way. Of course I was not alone, I was with my parents.
    I still dont like those things today 40 years later. I learned my lesson.

    Report Post »  
    • muddpuddle
      Posted on July 19, 2012 at 11:40pm

      same thing happened to me… i was riding up and down while my mom shopped. When I came back, it looked like an alligator bit the end of my sneaker off. I still had all ten toes, but those shoes were history.

      Report Post »  
  • Elena2010
    Posted on July 19, 2012 at 11:16pm

    You — out of the gene pool! Now!

    How can people be so stupid – trying to take a scooter up the escalator that is marked no strollers. Now a kid wearing shower shoes outside. Brain dead people!

    Report Post » Elena2010  
    • phillipwgirard
      Posted on July 19, 2012 at 11:31pm

      I agree, another idiot,,,

      Report Post » phillipwgirard  
    • Apple Bite
      Posted on July 20, 2012 at 12:36am

      If only we had more Darwin spotters like yourself. A teenage boy wearing flip flops. I haven‘t seen flip flops since the early 80’s and even then, they were mostly worn by young girls…

      Report Post » Apple Bite  
    • N37BU6
      Posted on July 20, 2012 at 1:20am

      Elena2010, phillipwgirard, and Apple Bite… the 3 of you are judging a child’s intelligence, justifying his maiming, and hoping for his eventual death over his choice of footwear.

      Sure you aren’t liberals? Sounds to me like you belong on some regulatory board of sick, hateful control freaks.

      Report Post » N37BU6  
    • Skrewedretiree
      Posted on July 20, 2012 at 1:30am

      The worst part? Obama wants them to VOTE!

      Report Post » Skrewedretiree  
    • Elena2010
      Posted on July 20, 2012 at 1:48pm

      @N37BU6 – I was making a caustic observation. Have you gotten yourself in a jam because you did not bother to think before acting?

      Report Post » Elena2010  
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