Tennessee Aquarium Escalator Incident Provides Teaching Moment

An incident at the Tennessee Aquarium in Chattanooga on July 26, in which five children suffered minor injuries as a result of two of them improperly riding an escalator, provides a teaching moment for parents, aquarium Communications Manager Thom Benson told WDEF News 12. “Parents can help us by teaching their children that escalators are mechanical devices, and are safe to use if safety rules are followed,” Benson said. News outlets including The Chattanoogan report that the incident, involving a summer camp from outside the aquarium organization, was caused by two children riding the escalator seated and facing backwards, causing approximately 12 other children to fall on top of them before the unit stopped. Aquarium officials said the behavior “is in direct violation” of its safety policy.