ESCALATOR INJURIES IN GENEVAN CHILDREN - A REPORT OF 6 CASES

We present a retrospective survey of the mechanism and the lesions cau sed by escalators in Genevan children. Though these accidents are rare , they are often very serious. They occur primarily among children aro und the age of three and affect especially the hand. It is not economi cally feasible to replace or modify current escalators. It is therefor e important that the current warning signs on escalators be improved. As there is a specific risk to children of catching fingers in the esc alator and most patents are unaware of this type of danger, a warning sign with an explicit illustration could be of value. Also an insertio n of a plastic bar just above the moving stairs on each lateral wall m ould block any potential extremities from being caught in the gap betw een the steps and the side of the staircase.