After my fall over a car-stop bumper in a hotel parking lot, I’ve learned many other people have tripped over them, too. I had a ride in the ambulance and 27 stitches on the forehead. Naperville Fire Chief Mark Puknaitis told me the City responds to many fall victims which require transport to the hospital. His focus is Community Risk Reduction. We have eight ambulances and need to reduce the number of ambulance calls for falls.
The mission of the Senior Task Force is to make Naperville a Senior Friendly Town. The Disabilities Commission is definitely working with us to prevent these wheel-stops from being among the many hazards for the handicapped.
There are easier ways to prevent cars from forward movement in parking stalls by using vertical posts that can be seen by the driver. They are easy to shovel snow at the base, easy to be seen at eye level, can’t be tripped over, and less expensive to install. Plus, it’s easier to navigate a wheelchair around a post. It is unbelievable that these tire-stop bumpers are at handicapped parking spots.
We want to hear from people that have tripped over the barriers. The City needs to have an idea of how many have found them to be a preventable hazard. The fire chief says that the more they hear from us, the better it will be to work on preventing incidents.
If you can let us know of an incident you have experienced, or know of anyone that has, kindly call me as I would like to talk with you. Please call me at (630) 420-7355.
Chuckle Time – While on a road trip, an elderly couple stopped at a roadside restaurant for lunch. After finishing their meal, they left the restaurant, and resumed their trip. When leaving, the elderly woman unknowingly left her glasses on the table, and she didn’t miss them until they had been driving for about forty minutes.
All the way back, the elderly husband became the classic grumpy old man.
He fussed and complained and scolded his wife relentlessly during the entire return drive. To her relief, they finally arrived at the restaurant.
As the woman got out of the car and hurried inside to retrieve her glasses, the husband yelled to her, “While you’re in there, you might as well get my hat and the credit card!”
