Aquarium officials say parents can learn from escalator mishap

They say it happened because kids treated the escalator like a ride, not a potential danger

CHATTANOOGA (WDEF) – Five children were treated by security and E-M-Ts at the Tennessee Aquarium yesterday afternoon following an escalator mishap.

It happened around 1:45 in the River Journey Building.

The kids were in a Summer Camp group not affiliated with the Aquarium.

Their chaperone says two of the children rode the escalator sitting down.

When they got to the top, they fell backwards causing a chain reaction.

A dozen kids fell down.

Aquarium Communications Director Thom Benson says the incident is a good reminder for parents.

“Escalators are safe if the safety rules are followed. And if there’s a positive outcome from this incident, I would hope that it would be parents recognizing the importance of escalator safety, and then helping us by teaching their children that escalators are mechanical devices and they’re safe to use if the safety rules are followed.”

Most of the injuries appear to be minor.

But two kids were taken to the hospital with neck and leg pain, and dizziness.