Safety in Shopping Malls And Streets

The world has many fabulous shopping malls. Jewel at Changi Airport, Singapore, has a multi-storey waterfall in the centre.

With winter weather affecting many cities, and Christmas coming, many of us will be going into malls.  You are protected from the weather and traffic. I know many wonderful malls. In the centre of Singapore Orchard road underground railway links you to department stores and shopping malls containing shops, offices, cinemas an aquariums and a fountains. 

Ion Mall, Singapore. Photo by Angela Lansbury.

 Ion is impressive. A basement walkway leads you under Orchard Road, past an aquarium, under other shopping malls, ending by a fountain and the wonderful Takashimaya in impressive Ngee Ann City. But how safe is a shopping trip. London has Brent Cross and Watford and other areas have more magnificent malls. 

America has malls with theme parks attached. 

In Singapore and South Africa you can stay in hotels attached to shopping malls, sheltered from the weather.

What about safety? I always wonder how to get out of large malls in a fire.

1 Malls should be designed so that you can escape quickly in a fire,

2  And not fall or be thrown off a balcony, internal wall or escalator. 

In Singapore we had an accident from a boy who jumped onto what looked like a marble ledge but it was trompe l'oeuil. In the UK and the USA we have had children thrown over walls by strangers. Architects please take note. With millions of people in malls every day, somebody somewhere will be drunk, sit on a ledge or low wall, sit a child on a ledge, throw themselves off a ledge, or throw off somebody else. It is predictable and preventable. How can you rectify the problem? Install glass walls, barriers, stepped atriums, awnings or hammock style nets under all ledges and low walls. 

Andorra Mall, previous Xmas. Sharot family photo.

Jurong Point Shopping Mall, Singapore.

Safety Tips

Don't put your wallet in your back pocket.

Know the exits.

Be aware of people around you.

When possible stand with your back to a wall and not looking over a balcony.

Consolidate multiple bags into one or two.

Have your car key ready so you don't stop to look for it in a car park.

Useful Websites

Dangers

https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-11505367/Mall-America-settles-lawsuit-family-boy-5-thrown-balcony.html#newcomment

https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2046333/Grandmother-guilty-throwing-toddler-death-bridge-shopping-mall.html

https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2019/dec/06/teenager-jonty-bravery-who-threw-child-from-tate-modern-balcony-admits-attempted-murder

Safety Precautions

https://www.cornwallsecurity.com/safety-tips-parking-lots-shopping-malls/#:~:text=In%20the%20Mall,friends%20or%20family%20whenever%20possible.

https://stmartinsheriff.org/safety-tips-mall-shopping/

Child Escape From Stalker - Into Shop

https://www.independent.co.uk/tv/news/woman-boy-pennsylvania-escape-abduction-b2227144.html

Please share links to your favourite posts.

Christmas Trees and Stars Quiz

Here's a Christmas Tree quiz for Christmas Day for adults or children or both. It's entertaining, informative, educational and fun.




Where is this artificial palm tree?

1 Lakeside shopping centre, Essex, England
2 Brent Cross Shopping Centre, Hendon, England
3 Intu shopping mall, Watford, England
4 Edmonton Shopping Mall, Alberta, Canada
5 Outside the White House, USA
6 Gardens by the Bay, Singapore
7 Outside 10 Downing Street, London
8 St George's, Harrow, England
(Hint. Answer in my previous posts.)
.............................

The Christmas Tree in Trafalgar Square London, England, is given in thanks since the end of WWII by
1 Germany
2 The USA
3 Finland
4 Norway
5 Denmark
6 Canada
7 Sweden
8 Scotland
.......................................

The Christmas tree is Trafalgar Square is a
1 Norway Spruce from Norway
2 Scottish Pine from Scotland
3 Monkey Puzzle from China
4 Dutch Elm from Holland
5 Douglas Fir from Canada
6 Pine Tree from Germany
7 Banyan tree from Florida
8 Sequoia from the USA
.........................................

This tree is raising cash for:
1 Cancer Research
2 RSPB (Royal Society for the Protection of Birds)
3 Ali's Dream (research into preventing brain tumours)
4 RSPCA Royal Society For the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals
5 The Salvation Army
6 Save the Whale
7 RNLA Royal National Lifeboat Association
8 YMCA
...................
(Hint. See one of my recent previous posts.)

The Spring cherry blossom trees in Washington DC were given as a peace offering after WWII by
1 Germany
2 Japan
3 China
4 Italy
5 Taiwan
6 Russia
7 Canada
8 Italy
.........................
Hint. If you can't guess, you'll find the answer on the internet.

The star on top of the Christmas tree is usually
1 The four point star representing the Southern Cross of New Zealand and Australia
2 An eight point star sacred to Hindus
3 The five point star symbolising the star over Bethlehem where Jesus was born
4 The five point star revered by Moslems, reprinting the five pillars of Islam
5 The six point Star of David revered by Jews
6 The six point Star of Solomon revered by Moslems
7 The symbol of Peter Pan
8 The Moscow Kremlin symbol
..............................

Easy one for the little ones / anybody who speaks English as a foreign language. If you can't answer question one, do the others and come back to question one.

What do we get/eat/make from these trees:
1 Norway spruce
2 Coconut palm
3 Rubber palm tree
4 Oil palm tree
5 Horse Chestnut tree (hint, not chestnuts)
6 Plum tree
7 Apple tree
8 Pear tree
9 Cherry tree
10 Oak tree
...................................

I suggest you print off copies.Write your name on your question paper.  Swap papers to mark them. Mark them and debate them yourselves. Dad or Mum had the casting vote.
I'll repost with answers later today or tomorrow.

Angela Lansbury, travel writer and photographer, author and speaker.