'It was shocking': Mum laments about her son's experience in their local supermarket
- Replies 16
Supermarkets are bustling hubs where families do their weekly shopping.
As families bring their children to supermarkets, parents and grandparents expect a safe environment for all.
However, a recent incident raised concerns about the safety features supermarkets have in place in their stores.
On a supposedly normal Wednesday in Lara, just south-west of Melbourne, a six-year-old boy named Kenzie suffered an injury.
The root cause? One of Coles' anti-theft security gates.
Kenzie's mum, Laura Jeacock, was shopping with her children when the incident occurred.
She heard a commotion by the self-checkout exit gates and found her son bleeding.
Another customer quickly helped Laura out, applying pressure to the gash in his eye.
The boy was rushed to the hospital for treatment.
'This incident happening a week before Christmas is not ideal,' Laura lamented.
'Spending his last day of school in the hospital is not fun either. The doctors had to check there was no glass in the cut before they glued it together.'
Coles rolled out the security gates last year in response to a rise in shoplifting cases in stores.
These gates should open automatically once a customer completes their purchase.
However, a Coles employee informed Laura that the gates in the said store did not have a sensor.
Laura also lamented about the staff's lack of urgency.
'It was shocking. The staff member who was supposedly medically trained had to Google what to do.'
A Coles spokesperson responded to the uproar caused by the incident.
'This smart gate technology is designed and tested to meet global and Australian standards,' the spokesperson said.
'It has inbuilt sensors to detect any objects nearby, ensuring the gates re-open automatically to avoid closing on customers.'
Despite this reassurance, the incident suggested that the gates may not always respond quickly, especially around children.
The supermarket chain has expressed that safety is their priority and that they take all concerns seriously.
On the other hand, the store manager reached out to Laura to check on Kenzie's condition.
This is not the first time Coles' security gates have faced criticism.
Earlier in the year, a customer who used a wheelchair shared their experience of being 'crushed' by the gates.
The customer, who remained anonymous, expressed their frustration online.
Incidents like these should be a reminder that while technology could provide solutions, it could also introduce new challenges and dangers.
Have you encountered any issues with Coles' security gates? How can supermarkets improve safety for all customers? Share your thoughts and opinions with us in the comments section below.
As families bring their children to supermarkets, parents and grandparents expect a safe environment for all.
However, a recent incident raised concerns about the safety features supermarkets have in place in their stores.
On a supposedly normal Wednesday in Lara, just south-west of Melbourne, a six-year-old boy named Kenzie suffered an injury.
The root cause? One of Coles' anti-theft security gates.
Kenzie's mum, Laura Jeacock, was shopping with her children when the incident occurred.
Coles received criticisms this year regarding their security measures. Image Credit: Inside Retail
She heard a commotion by the self-checkout exit gates and found her son bleeding.
Another customer quickly helped Laura out, applying pressure to the gash in his eye.
The boy was rushed to the hospital for treatment.
'This incident happening a week before Christmas is not ideal,' Laura lamented.
'Spending his last day of school in the hospital is not fun either. The doctors had to check there was no glass in the cut before they glued it together.'
Coles rolled out the security gates last year in response to a rise in shoplifting cases in stores.
These gates should open automatically once a customer completes their purchase.
However, a Coles employee informed Laura that the gates in the said store did not have a sensor.
Laura also lamented about the staff's lack of urgency.
'It was shocking. The staff member who was supposedly medically trained had to Google what to do.'
A Coles spokesperson responded to the uproar caused by the incident.
'This smart gate technology is designed and tested to meet global and Australian standards,' the spokesperson said.
'It has inbuilt sensors to detect any objects nearby, ensuring the gates re-open automatically to avoid closing on customers.'
Despite this reassurance, the incident suggested that the gates may not always respond quickly, especially around children.
The supermarket chain has expressed that safety is their priority and that they take all concerns seriously.
On the other hand, the store manager reached out to Laura to check on Kenzie's condition.
This is not the first time Coles' security gates have faced criticism.
Earlier in the year, a customer who used a wheelchair shared their experience of being 'crushed' by the gates.
The customer, who remained anonymous, expressed their frustration online.
Incidents like these should be a reminder that while technology could provide solutions, it could also introduce new challenges and dangers.
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