When Riding Escalator, Beware Of "Crocs"

(CBS/AP)  At rail stations and shopping malls around the world, reports are popping up of people, particularly young children, getting their toes caught in escalators. The one common theme seems to be the clunky soft-soled clogs known by the name of the most popular brand, Crocs.

One of the nation's largest subway systems - the Washington Metro - has even posted ads warning riders about wearing such shoes on its moving stairways. The ads feature a photo of a crocodile, though they don't mention Crocs by name.

Four-year-old Rory McDermott got a Croc-clad foot caught in an escalator last month at a mall in northern Virginia. His mother managed to yank him free, but the nail on his big toe was almost completely ripped off, causing heavy bleeding.

At first, Rory's mother had no idea what caused the boy's foot to get caught. It was only later, when someone at the hospital remarked on Rory's shoes, that she began to suspect the Crocs and did an Internet search.

"I came home and typed in 'Croc' and 'escalator,' and all these stories came up," said Jodi McDermott, of Vienna, Va. "If I had known, those would never have been worn."

According to reports appearing across the United States and as far away as Singapore and Japan, entrapments occur because of two of the biggest selling points of shoes like Crocs: their flexibility and grip. Some report the shoes get caught in the "teeth" at the bottom or top of the escalator, or in the crack between the steps and the side of the escalator.

"These injuries are horrendous," reports Early Show ConsumerWatch Correspondent Susan Koeppen. "They look like shark bites. This is a six-ton piece of machinery and if your foot, your finger or something gets caught in there, we're talking a serious, serious injury."

The reports of serious injuries have all involved young children. Crocs are commonly worn by children as young as 2. The company introduced shoes in its smallest size, 4/5, this past spring.

Niwot, Colo.-based Crocs Inc. said it does not keep records of the reasons for customer-service calls. But the company said it is aware of "very few" problems relating to accidents involving the shoes, which are made of a soft, synthetic resin.

"Thankfully, escalator accidents like the one in Virginia are rare," the company said in a statement.

In Japan, the government warned consumers last week that it has received 39 reports of sandals - mostly Crocs or similar products - getting stuck in escalators from late August through early September. Most of the reports appear to have involved small children, some as young as two years old.

Kazuo Motoya of Japan's National Institute of Technology and Evaluation said children may have more escalator accidents in part because they "bounce around when they stand on escalators, instead of watching where they place their feet."

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[jimbo505]

Crocs look so strange!

[jimbo505]

this is very true

[missygurl1]

Geez bthrasher102,
lighten up! accidents do happen even to the best supervised child. I know, been an e.m.t. for 10 years and working in the e.r. The craziest things happen. This is just one of those things, we learn from experiences \ (hopefully)

[ltblmr39]

This is not a new thing! My son was only 5 yrs. old in 1975 and was standing right beside me on a Penneys store escalator with tennis shoes on, (not Crocs.) The friction of the rubber on the shoes caught on the corner of the step of the escalator and pulled the top of his shoe, toes and all, down into the crack. It clamped down on his little feet pulling all of his toenails out. It was a lesson well learned. We always watched the rubber on shoes very carefully after that, and it had nothing to do with Crocs.

[michellem99-2009]

Let not blame adult and or child. They have parts yer just can''t see. I will not use them. I will not. I can''t see to use them. I am terrified of them and have been since 1964 in a store in Maine. I use a white cane.. I use the lift or steps. Thank you.

[Krazcarl]

Thought that''s why they removed escalators in most places is there basicaly not safe. Do remember my first ride at 10 at the old Woolworths you''d have thought I was on a carnivel ride that''s the problem children not the shoes though rubber packs would be safer.

[bthrasher102]

My point was that you are not supposed to do that with any shoe, period, not matter your age. I would be willing to bet that the safety instructions located on the hand rail at the top (or bottom depending on the direction you''re going) of the escalator point that fact out. Also, you can''t blame a shoe for not protecting your foot, when the shoe is not designed, nor advertised as something that will. I''m sure you are a great parent. My point was never to argue that you aren''t. My point was that when something goes wrong, people blame the person with the most money, even if simply reading instructions or using some common sense would have prevented it. People make mistakes, companies who manufacture a perfectly decent product shouldn''t have to pay for them.

[lckjaw]

I didn''t realize that you were parent of the year....my appologies. How about you put on a pair of crocs and stand perfectly still on an escalator without moving your feet. My son stood perfectly still and always does...excep this time they ''touched the side'' for a second. In that second his shoes were torn apart and melted on the top because of that brief second. Yeah...your right....couldn''t possibly be anything wrong with the material of the shoe that would grip on and tear apart and melt in that second........oh and with my sons toe in with it.

[bthrasher102]

So you think it''s Crocs fault that you son stuck his foot on the side of the escalator? When your kid gets on the escalator, he/she should know it''s not a toy. You''re supposed to stand on the step and wait till you get to the bottom and step off, not screw around and try to put your foot on the side of it or wait and see if the bottom will suck your shoe under. Crocs are basically socks, did you think about that while you watched your kid playing around in them on the escalator?

[michellem99-2009]

I an 52. I know this about abrand of shoe and them moving stairs. I hate them stairs that move. I will not go on them. no sah..Yer could not pay me to use them.
I am legally blind and can''t see to use them safely. I can''t use my cane on them as I can on stairs that are still. Children should not use them. I use the lift and so should the young kids with their care givers.