Escalator mishaps 60 years on - are we taking the moving staircase for granted?

Singapore's first escalator made its debut in 1965 at Orchard Theatre, right around the time the nation gained independence.

Because it was the first, the moving staircase became a bit of an attraction, with people visiting just to experience the novelty.

Visitors were excited to hop on, while others were a little wary, unsure of how to step on and off smoothly.

Today, escalators are everywhere - from MRT stations to shopping malls and even overhead bridges.

Yet, we rarely give escalators a second glance - unless something goes wrong, of course.

On Feb 22, a girl was taken to the hospital after her left foot was trapped in the gap of an escalator at a shopping mall in Buangkok.

Although the escalator had stopped, the girl's left foot remained trapped in the gap. She cried out in fear and pain as her mother tried to comfort her.

On Feb 15, a father managed to save his daughter whose sandal got stuck in the escalator at Thomson Plaza.

In July 2024, a boy's foot was stuck in an escalator at Jurong Point.

Are we not exercising vigilance when taking children onto escalators?

The Building and Construction Authority advises the public to practise escalator safety. This includes standing within the yellow box on the escalator steps and avoiding leaning on the sides.