A young child was injured Wednesday, December 28, 2011 around 7 p.m. at the Mall of Georgia in Buford, Georgia. According to a fire official, the child fell out of a stroller while the stroller was on the escalator. The child was taken to a nearby hospital and treated for minor injuries.
This story is an unfortunate example of the very real dangers of boarding an escalator with a stroller. Although it is not directly required by the ASME A17.1, “Safety Code for Elevators and Escalators,” escalator manufacturers and building owners frequently place prominent signs near escalators warning riders not to board with strollers, walkers, or carts. Other accidents involving strollers include strollers being dropped down the escalator and strollers becoming entrapped with the escalator.
This story was originally reported by the Lilburn Mountain Park Patch on December 29, 2011.