Crocs linked to escalator entrapments

[Jestjoan]

Crocs and similar soft shoes linked to escalator entrapments
At first we thought that the stories we've been hearing about Crocs getting caught in escalators were an urban myth akin to alligators in the sewers. But recently, safety groups in the U.S. and Japan have issued warnings about soft-sided flexible clogs like Crocs and its imitators posing safety hazards to escalator riders. Typically, the shoe becomes entrapped when the rider is stepping on or off the escalator or standing too close to the side.

The Consumer Product Safety Commission reports that 77 escalator entrapment incidents have been reported since January 2006, half of which resulted in injury. All but two of the incidents involved soft-sided flexible clogs and slides such as Crocs. The CPSC doesn't reference the brand Crocs in its announcement but acknowledges that Crocs fall into the category of soft shoes they are warning about.

From Consumer Reports

 

[pjrose]

Wow! I'm not surprised, given that sometimes I've been briefly "stuck" while just walking on regular floors. They are sooooo comfy, but definitely have their problems. Last summer I wore them much of the time for several weeks. I have problem feet and the crocs felt great, but since they have no support my feet got worse over the time period.

 

[Carol C]

Is it really the crocs themselves...or perhaps it is the crocs "bling" that gets stuck?

 

[pjrose]

Is it really the crocs themselves...or perhaps it is the crocs "bling" that gets stuck?

I think it's the soles of the shoes - they're so squishy that they tend to grab onto the walking surface.

 

[TUGBrian]

man..two news storys in one week about crocs....I was rolling my eyes yesterday reading they now come in ladies high heels?

 

[pjrose]

man..two news storys in one week about crocs....I was rolling my eyes yesterday reading they now come in ladies high heels?

I just checked their website - the high heels are actually pretty cute!

http://shop.crocs.com//pc-1174-4-cy...=41p&subsectionname=footwear&section=products

I'd better hope DD doesn't see them, or I'll be out another $50 for shoes

 

[Passepartout]

Crocs

I wore them just about non-stop last summer and do think their lack of support didn't do my feet any good. DWs wearing them this year. She found some thong style ones- stuff between my toes drives me nuts.

Anyway, as 'sticky' as the soles are, I can see how they might get caught in an escalator if one is not careful to stand well away from the edges of the steps.

They are wonderful to fly in. Kicking them off for TSA is no problem, and you just step back in 'em. Your feel won't swell uncomfortably, and you just want something (ahem, substantial) if you use the airplane restroom.

Jim Ricks

 

[tlwmkw]

My kids love them but if they run at all then they are very prone to falling. We have to watch them carefully and encourage them to slow down when wearing the Crocs. Now we'll have to worry about escalators (which the kids are already a little nervous about anyway). It's always something.
tlwmkw

 

[T_R_Oglodyte]

What I'm trying to figure out is how the crocs get out of the swamp, open the door to the mall, and get on the escalator? All accomplished with a reptilian brain the size of a walnut, no opposable digits, and without being caught?

Another mystery is how the crocs manage to get all the way from their native habitats in tropical and sub-tropical areas to those shopping malls and office buildings in temperate zones in the mid-latitudes and the arid deserts of the North America? Are there that many of them being flushed down the toilets in American homes? Are the sewers that conducive to their survival? And after they are grown how do they get out of the sewer system to start moving around, resulting in getting caught on those escalators? If they are pushing manhole covers open with their snouts, don't you think someone would notice?

Is this all just a plot to make it easier to harvest croc hides to make high fashion purses, wallets, belts, and shoes?

Inquiring minds want to know.

 

[chellej]

Steve

Your post reminds me of the mud-wamp-swamp and boiled pizza days here on TUG.

I miss the humor

 

[T_R_Oglodyte]

Steve

Your post reminds me of the mud-wamp-swamp and boiled pizza days here on TUG.

I'm still here, even if Kurt doesn't hang out so much anymore.

The thread title is "Crocs linked to escalator entrapments". So before I opened the thread, I had a visual image of marauding crocodiles hanging out like teenage boys at the top of an escalator, mouths gaping wide and saliva drooling as they awaited the choice morsels being delivered to them by the escalator. Meanwhile people screaming in terror are trapped on the escalator, desperately running downward against the upward movement of the escalator, in a futile attempt to avoid being carried to the certain death awaiting them at the top of the escalator.

But then I opened the thread and realized that the crocs were the trappees, not the trappers.

+++

All of which raises the further question, if crocs are the trappees on the escalator, and their hides end up being used artisans to make crafts, does that make the artisans "trappees artists"???? More fodder for inquiring minds, IMHO.

 

[mshatty]

I'm still here, even if Kurt doesn't hang out so much anymore.

The thread title is "Crocs linked to escalator entrapments". So before I opened the thread, I had a visual image of marauding crocodiles hanging out like teenage boys at the top of an escalator, mouths gaping wide and saliva drooling as they awaited the choice morsels being delivered to them by the escalator. Meanwhile people are trapped on the escalator, desperately running downward against the movement of the escalator, in a futile attempt to avoid being carried to the certain death awaiting them at the top the escalator.

But then I opened the thread and realized that the crocs were the trappees, not the trappers.

+++

All of which raises the further question, if crocs are the trappees on the escalator, and their hides end up being used artisans to make crafts, does that make the artisans "trappees artists"???? More fodder for inquiring minds, IMHO.

:hysterical: Slow day Steve?

 

[PigsDad]

So, not only are Crocs extremely ugly, they are dangerous as well! That just made my day!

I have to forward this reference to some of my Croc-loving friends!

Kurt (not the Kurt T.R. was referencing, evidently...)

 

[grupp]

An attorney friend of my warned me about this a while back. He was representing a mall where a child had lost their foot after it was caught in the escalator while wear Crocs. Very tragic situation.

Gary

 

[Karen G]

I just checked their website - the high heels are actually pretty cute!

They also have some cute wedges.

 

[Jestjoan]

Steve, DH usually can't stand for me to read him any of this bbs, loved your post. Me, too.........

I just Googled this subject..........scary.

 

[gmarine]

Another reason not to wear the ugliest footwear in history.

 

[pjrose]

The thread title is "Crocs linked to escalator entrapments". So before I opened the thread, I had a visual image of marauding crocodiles hanging out like teenage boys at the top of an escalator, mouths gaping wide and saliva drooling as they awaited the choice morsels being delivered to them by the escalator.

You didn't visualize AwayWeGo? I still haven't figured out if his pic is a croc or a gator.....

 

[pjrose]

An attorney friend of my warned me about this a while back. He was representing a mall where a child had lost their foot after it was caught in the escalator while wear Crocs. Very tragic situation.

Gary

Yikes - how horrible. I wonder what the outcome of the lawsuit was.

 

[T_R_Oglodyte]

Now there are problems involving crocs and storm drains: