Elderly Elevator Safety Accidents Increase... "86% of Escalator Accidents"

The Korea Consumer Agency has issued a safety warning as more elderly people are injured using elevators such as escalators.

From 2020 to September this year, there were more than 1,500 accidents with elevator facilities for senior citizens aged 65 or older reported to the consumer risk monitoring system, which has more than doubled every year since 2021.

Last year, safety accidents per 10,000 people occurred the most among the elderly aged 65 or older, especially between 85 and 89 years old, with 1.22 cases per 10,000 people.

Of the 1,500 safety accidents for the elderly, more than 90% were found to be falls, and 86% were caused by escalators.

More than half of all safety accidents were reported to have injured the head and face.

The Korea Consumer Agency is planning to make and distribute safety guidelines to prevent safety accidents for the elderly, urging them to hold the handle when riding an escalator.