Puregold: Escalator accident an isolated case

MANILA, Philippines - The Puregold Supermarket chain assured the public yesterday that its 101 branches nationwide conform to all safety standards of the supermarket industry, including those governing the operation of escalators.

Puregold senior vice president Aida de Guzman, in a statement, said the Feb. 22 accident at its Caloocan City branch that involved seven-year-old Felix Aparejado was an isolated case.

She said their supermarket escalators are run in the same manner as in all other commercial establishments, but urged parents not to leave their young children alone to avoid accidents.

Aparejado’s arm was caught in the last step of the escalator and it took supermarket personnel and rescue workers two hours to extricate his arm.

“It was a delicate operation since the priority was to save the child’s arm and to prevent any further damage,” De Guzman said.

The boy was brought to the Manila Central University hospital and “is now well on the way to full recovery,” she said.

De Guzman said Puregold would shoulder the medical expenses for the boy, including his doctor and other expenses of the Aperajado family related to the incident. – Pete Laude, Jerry Botial