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Friday, August 07, 2009

My Son's Elevator Accident

As soon as we became parents we did the mandatory baby proofing. Who didn't? Outlets were covered, cleaners were moved from under the sink to a cabinet up high and baby gates were installed. We never did babyproof as much as many of our friends, but the basics seemed to be covered.

Yet, it wasn't that one outlet that I forgot to cover after using the outlet that sent us to the ER last year; it was that Christmas ornament hanger that was lodged between the couch cushions months after Christmas that our younger son (YS) swallowed. Yes, there were tons of our older son's (OS) toys for 3+ that he could have chosen, but it was the unexpected object that he chose.

Don't get me wrong. I do believe that if you can prevent an accident than you absolutely should take those steps. Probably it was because we always kept our outlets covered that the kids grew bored with them and left them alone so that when one was occasionally uncovered it wasn't even noticed. However, it does seem like our bigger accidents are just events that come from left field.

Yesterday was one of them. I woke up in the middle of night with a tender ear and knew that I had an ear infection. I was able to get an appointment for that morning. The doctor confirmed that I had an ear infection. I gathered up our things and left for the library. When I was placing our newly checked out books on my front seat, I noticed that I had accidentally walked off with the office's People Magazine. How embarrassing! I needed to pick up OS from camp, but the doctor's office happened to be right across the street from it. Seeing as I had ten minutes, I figured I would just zip in with the magazine and quietly slip it back in the magazine rack.

YS and I got into the elevator and he happily pressed the 2 button. The elevator dinged as we approached the second floor and YS in his excitement to exit the elevator pressed his hands flat against the door. Unfortunately as he did that, the door retracted taking his right hand and wrist with it. YS was pulled right off his feet. He was understandably screaming and his right arm up to his forearm was completely jammed in the elevator.

I positioned myself in the door jam because I knew that there were sensors on the door, or at least there should be . I was worried about what would happen if the elevator should move. I tried and tried and tried and tried to get his hand out but I couldn't. I screamed for help over and over again. I was panicking and I knew it. From my position I couldn't see the alarm bell much less press it and I was scared to move out of my position. I was also scared to let go of YS to search for my cell phone in my purse.

After what seemed like minutes, but probably was only between 30 seconds and a minute I was able to get his arm out. A nurse had heard my calling for help when she went to use the hall bathroom and came running. We brought YS into see my doctor who gave him a baby aspirin and an ice pack and sent us immediately to his pediatrician who fortunately was also basically across the street.

We were pretty much rushed into the doctor (it was only a couple minute wait and we were a walk in) and he examined YS's hand. While it was swollen, it thankfully did not appear to be broken. The doctor said if his hand had been positioned any other way but flat he would have broken it.

Like many people I had always heard that swimming after eating was bad. Who hasn't done that though at some point? Did anything bad really happen? I had put touching elevator doors in the same category. I always tell my kids not to do it, but I never really thought anything bad would happen.

I went to the fire department today to see if I should report that elevator. In addition to child safety, I have seen a lot of elderly people at the Y push on elevator doors as they are opening. Yes, I know that sounds weird, but it's true. My doctor treats elderly patients. Why didn't the sensors on the inside of the door go off when YS put his hands on it? It turns out that the sensors are at adult chest level. YS was simply too short for them to have detected him. While my gut reaction was to think "What's the point of that?" the reality is that even if they had been there, they may not have worked. Certainly I think that they should be made lower, but regardless I for one will make sure to seriously enforce a strict no touching elevator doors policy.

I think statistically this occurrence was probably very rare. I would bet that just by reading this and knowing me, your chance of having this happen is pretty slim. However, I thought it was important to put it out there.

posted by Alex Elliot @ 12:37 PM 6 comments

6 Comments:

At 8/07/2009 7:02 PM, Zip n Tizzy said…

Yikes! How scary.
Fortunately this will just be one of those remember when stories for your family. I'm glad it wasn't worse.

I still have to make sure I don't leave change around my 5 year old. He knows not to put it in his mouth, but he still does it anyway.

Glad your little one is o.k!
At 8/07/2009 7:53 PM, soccer mom in denial said…

Huh? The sensors are only for adults? At chest level? Does that mean a 4'11" person won't be "sensed"? How about a 7'2" person? What about a dog's nose?The entire door should have sensors.

I do love that you checked in with the fire department. You are awesome.

Thanks so much for sharing this story (wow) and reassuring that everyone is realitively o.k.
At 8/07/2009 11:58 PM, Heather said…

How scary! And yet, good on you Mom, for being vigilent and watchful. You are a great mom.
At 8/08/2009 8:52 AM, Manic Mommy said…

Thank goodness he's okay. You're so right; I warn but half-heartedly.

And I don't think you'll have to worry about YS doing it again.
At 8/10/2009 5:38 AM, Goofball said…

I'm glad he was doing fine afterwards without any serious wounds/breaks/....

How scary, I would have totally panicked as well.

Yet sensors as far as I can picture elevators right now, always are quite low in Belgium. About my knee because if I see people coming up to the elevator and I want to keep it open for them to be able to get in, I just move a leg forward....never my chest. Nope, bending my knee forward usually does the trick.

Then also...I've never seen anyone touching elevator doors? Is that common to do? Really? Hmm.
At 8/10/2009 5:45 AM, Goofball said…

which brand of elevator is it?

the most common over here is Schindler.

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Name:	Alex Elliot
Home:	MA, United States
About Me:	Professional Mom of two cats, a dog, an ant farm, and oh yeah...two boys: a 6 year old and a 3 year old. Also found in my house is my husband who is known on this blog as The Big Giraffe.
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For those of us who didn't get an instruction manual with our babies and for whom parenting hasn't always gone as planned. On a more serious note this blog is about supporting a woman's ability to make her own choices about parenting including the choice, for whatever reason, to bottle feed her babies formula.

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