Accidents Caused by Wearing Crocs

Escalators

The soft, rubbery material the shoes are made of have a habit of getting caught on certain surfaces. Most of the time, this might simply lead to a stubbed toe. Almost all of the major accidents and injuries involving Crocs involve escalators. The flexible soles and toes of the shoes will get caught in the steps as they close up at the top or bottom, leading to injuries. This is complicated by the track records of young kids playing on escalators, hanging on the rails, leaning their feet on the edge of the steps and dragging their feet in the corners where the rail meets the steps.

Reactions

The rising number of injuries among Crocs-wearing kids has raised concerns. Some establishments, such as the Washington D.C. subway system, are posting warning signs recommending that people use their elevators instead of escalators if they are wearing these or similar shoes. The Japanese Trade Ministry (another country where the shoes are popular) has even contacted the Colorado shoe manufacturer, requesting that the shoes be redesigned. Others simply point out that many of the accidents are caused from kids and others not following proper safety procedures on escalators, like facing forward, holding the handrail and avoiding the edges of the steps.

References

• The Washington Post
• Snopes