join | what's new
Home Site Map Crafting Ideas Family Fun Parenting Home & Garden Holidays Funbook Forums
Your online source for free family fun, craft projects, parenting advice, and more...
Tell a Friend or Two
Cratfs & Fun
Kid's Crafts
Kid's Recipes
Holidays
Family Fun
Our Experts
Ages & Stages
Education
Home & Garden
Just For You
Parenting
Fun Stuff
Pets
Humor
Games
Message Boards
Photo Gallery
Blogs
 




  Avoid Shopping Dangers
by Donald A. Davis

Snowy and rainy days make it a good time to stroll the malls and enjoy all they offer. It's not uncommon to spend many hours, shopping, eating, and taking in some of their entertainment. If you're lucky, you have a super store in your local area where you can do your One Stop Shopping. In any case, it's important to know some of the safety concerns.

ESCALATORS: I was riding down an escalator. Just before we reached the bottom, the lady in front of me stopped. Then she started screaming. The lace to her sneaker got caught. The escalator did not stop automatically. Several of us tried to free her. I could hear a terrifying ripping sound as her sneaker was getting ripped from her foot. One bystander searched for a shutoff switch while two of us tried to get her sneaker off. The sneaker was tight around her foot from the pulling action of the escalator. As I tried to take off her sneaker, another bystander tried to loosen her lace. The first bystander was able to stop the escalator. The emergency switch was on the lower left side at the bottom of the escalator. This was a very frightening experience for all of us. Although this happened at an airport, escalators are in many shopping malls as well.

Safety Tips:

1. Know where the shutoff switch is for escalators that you frequently ride?
2. Read the signs around and on the escalator.
3. Make sure your child has his or her laces tied.
4. Teach your child to STEP UP as the escalator reaches the top and bottom.

SLIDING GLASS DOORS: While going shopping at our base commissary, my daughter put her hands on the doors as it opened up. Her hand followed the door all the way into its closed position. She let out a big scream and started crying. I was right behind her. I saw her arm wedged between the two doors. There was just enough gap for her arm to get stuck. She was lucky because there was a little play between the doors. This prevented her arm from being snapped in two. I was able to pry the doors apart far enough for my daughter to get her arm out. She had a little red mark on her arm but nothing more.


Safety Tips:

1. Explain to your child not to touch "automatic" doors.
2. Enter doors the same time as your child or just before them. If you enter before them, make sure you hold their hand.

GUMBALL MACHINES: One of the most common attractions to children at store entrances is the good old gumball machine. Today these machines carry much more than gumballs. You can find these machines carrying stickers, little locks, miniature stuffed animals, key rings and more. These attract children like the sound of an ice cream truck coming down the street.

It was only about three months ago when my daughter and I were at the grocery store off base. I went through the automatic doors before her. We were in between the outside sliding doors and the inside sliding doors. This corridor had the gumball machines and an automatic teller machine (ATM). I withdrew some money and turned around to take my daughter's hand. Her back was to me. I told her we had to go inside now. She said her hand was stuck. I looked over her shoulder. Her hand was indeed stuck inside the gumball machine. My first reaction was to remain calm and talk to her. She reached deep inside. When she pulled her hand, it got caught. I couldn't pull her arm out because it was too tight. I was also concerned about any sharp edges inside.

I wasn't going to leave her. I knew I had to keep her calm and prevent her from risking cutting her arm or hand. I kept talking to my daughter in a calm voice. I asked the next customer coming out of the store to get the manager. I explained my daughter's arm was stuck. The manager quickly came running. Just as she entered the corridor, my daughter pulled her arm out. There was a red indent just below her wrist.

There wasn't a phone number on any of the machines so I couldn't report this incident to the owner. I asked the manager to ensure the owner of the machines was aware of what had just happened.

Safety Tips:

1. Explain to your child the dangers of reaching inside the gum ball machines. Let them know there might be sharp edges inside.
2. Try to remain calm if your child ever gets stuck in a situation like this or any other one that can cause him or her harm. Keep your child calm by talking to them.
3. Keep your child in your line of sight when you are conducting business at a store register or automatic teller machine (ATM).

If you are a parent, I'm sure you can relate to the many close calls our children run into each week. Sadly, there are those children who suffer greatly from preventable accidents. Try to remember that a second or two thinking about safety can prevent months of suffering.



More You Might Like:
Baby Safety Month: A Calendar of Tips
Car Safety for Children
Keeping Afloat Around the Pool


About the Author:
Donald A. Davis is a father of two and a 19 year military man. He is a "Morale" Officer. He was born in Billerica, MA, and graduated from Billerica High. He worked at a computer company for one year after high school and then joined the military.



 
Coming Up

Father's Day!

Father's Day is coming soon. Celebrate dad this year with crafts, recipes and plenty of other ideas. Here are a few examples to get you started...

More Holidays...

Free Newsletters
your email address:

Recently Added
New Stuff

new on familycorner.comMissed the last couple of newsletters? Haven't visited for a while? This section highlights articles and crafts that have recently been added to FC...


Coming Up


Granola on a Stick


Mug for Dad


Fireworks Flowers


Cake Balls
We Recommend
FamilyCorner Photo Gallery

Did you know that FamilyCorner has its own photo gallery? Did you know that YOU can upload your own photos to it? That's right, and it's completely free!

Here are some of the fun benefits of sharing your photos in our FC Gallery:

  • Send your own photos as an e-card
  • Watch slide shows
  • See beautiful sunsets and other great scenic shots
  • Brag about and share pictures of your loving pets
  • Share photos of your children and grandchildren
  • Create your own individual album and post in category albums
  • Keep your favorite pictures organized online
  • Rate images of other members
  • ...more!
Join us in the FC Photo Gallery. It's completely free to use, just another fabulous reason to be a FamilyCorner subscriber.

Start your own album by visiting our free gallery today!
Family Podcasts

Hosted by Caroline & JacquieFamily Matters Radio
Hosted by Caroline & Jacquie. Choose a segment below to begin listening!

Secrets of Happily Married Women
listen to part 1Do you feel like you are constantly on overdrive? Juggling career and family, attending to everyone's needs but your own, and all the while struggling to maintain a sense of balance and harmony in your marriage? You can actually start getting more out of your relationship by doing less and we'll tell you how with Dr. Scott Haltzman, author of Secrets of Happily Married Women. Hear part 2

When Mars and Venus Collide
listen to part 1It's a common scenario: a husband returns home from work stressed out and eager to kick back on the couch and watch TV. A wife returns home from work stressed out and wants to talk about it with her husband. What happens? Neither is on the same page, anger and resentment set in. We're going to find out how stress is impacting marriages today and what you can do about it when we talk with bestselling author John Gray Hear part 2

 
FamilyCorner.com Magazine
OUR FRIENDS
Family Stickers
Letter Stencils
MomsMenu
Main Street Mom
She Knows
Baby University
Personal Fitness Zone
Amanda's Blog
MORE GOOD STUFF
Newsletters
Advertising
Services
Submissions
Media Opportunities
Link To Us
Shop
Feedback
Staff
POPULAR AREAS
Family FunBook
Forums
Kid's Crafts
Coloring Pages
Household Hints & Tips
Photo Gallery
Blogs
e-Cards
Reminder Service


Contact Us | Copyright Notice | Privacy Policy | Terms of Use/Disclaimer

Copyright © 1997-2008 FamilyCorner.com Magazine, Inc. FamilyCorner.com® is a registered trademark of FamilyCorner.com Magazine, Inc