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Passenger Safety for Kids....And Those Who Care About Them
Wide, shiny bright steps that move. Thick rubber handles. Sides that you can see yourself in.A moving playground? No, an escalator. A child can make a game out of almost anything and escalators are no exception. Although you know that an escalator is not a toy, many children do not. Following these simple guidelines will make the ride more pleasant and safe for children.
Kids on Escalators
When riding with a small child, hold his or her hand, or carry the child in one arm while holding the handrail with the other.
Kids on Escalators
When riding with a small child, hold his or her hand, or carry the child in one arm while holding the handrail with the other.
- Help children step onto and off of the escalator.
- Do not allow children to sit on escalator steps -- clothing or fingers can get caught.
- Never let children ride on or play with the handrail.
- Don't allow children to use an escalator unattended.
- Don't allow children to walk or run up the "down" escalator or down the "up" escalator.
- Don't let children drag their feet along an escalator's sides. No matter how tempting it is to make that distinctive "squeaky noise," a child's foot can become caught between the step and the side panel, causing serious injury.
- Never take a stroller on an escalator. Use the elevator instead.
Kids on Elevators
The rules for riding elevators are about the same for kids as they are for adults. It's a good idea for children to be especially careful around the doors. They should never put their hands or feet into the area between the moving door and the adjacent door jamb. And, because some elevator doors require contact with a door edge before they will stop or reverse, it's always a good idea to remind children never to try to stop a closing door by putting their hand or foot in its path.
Ideas for Building Owners or Managers
If you are responsible for running a building with escalators or elevators, you need to pay particular attention to safe usage by children. While most parents or guardians tend to follow the safe ridership rules we mention, some do not. So, it is also your duty to keep an eye out for unsafe riding practices (by kids or adults) and take action to avoid accidents. It's also a good idea not to place things adjacent to the escalators that will attract children. That can help keep kids away from the equipment, and might prevent a child from reaching from the escalator to a tempting display, losing his or her balance.
Teach the Children
Schindler supports the efforts of the Elevator Escalator Safety Foundation to reach young children and teach them good riding habits. The foundation has prepared an educational package, targeted to second graders, which uses a video and printed materials to help instill safe riding habits for both elevators and escalators.
The rules for riding elevators are about the same for kids as they are for adults. It's a good idea for children to be especially careful around the doors. They should never put their hands or feet into the area between the moving door and the adjacent door jamb. And, because some elevator doors require contact with a door edge before they will stop or reverse, it's always a good idea to remind children never to try to stop a closing door by putting their hand or foot in its path.
Ideas for Building Owners or Managers
If you are responsible for running a building with escalators or elevators, you need to pay particular attention to safe usage by children. While most parents or guardians tend to follow the safe ridership rules we mention, some do not. So, it is also your duty to keep an eye out for unsafe riding practices (by kids or adults) and take action to avoid accidents. It's also a good idea not to place things adjacent to the escalators that will attract children. That can help keep kids away from the equipment, and might prevent a child from reaching from the escalator to a tempting display, losing his or her balance.
Teach the Children
Schindler supports the efforts of the Elevator Escalator Safety Foundation to reach young children and teach them good riding habits. The foundation has prepared an educational package, targeted to second graders, which uses a video and printed materials to help instill safe riding habits for both elevators and escalators.
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