Russ White

[rheavn]

I wanted to let every one know that Russ White took a fall on his spiral staircase of his Newell. I spoke to him today & he is in bed & his daughter is taking care of him. Russ has been an active member of this forum since January of 2010 . I thought if any one has been helped by Russ or knows him they might want to post a get well here. Russ wants to remind every one that the granite spiral entry steps are slippery & please be careful!

[tuga]

First, I would like to wish Russ a quick recovery. I have had a few people to fall going down these steps over the last 5 years, forunately no one was hurt. I try to warn people to favor the "wide part" of the steps and hold on to the handle. The middle part of the steps can be tricky especially when your feet are wet.

I have considered installing some WalMart doormat material cut to size and silicone-ing it down to the steps. My wife doesn't like the way it would look, but I may over ride her veto!

I use this material on my retractable steps and it works great. It is easy to change when it becomes worn. Just pull it up, cut the new material to size, and squeeze new silicone on it, and put it on each step. It stays in place and since my steps are black it blends in nicely.

[RussWhite]

Tuga, Steve, Tom, and Bill - Thanks ever so much for your words of concern.

I am also reminded of others who have proceeded me with a fall on their spiral stairs. Let me detail a little bit more what happened in the event it might allow others readers to learn from my misfortune.

As with lots of things that go wrong, there are often more than one contributing factor to the event. It was a beautiful day, so the door to the coach was latched open. Since it was the middle of the day I felt no need to close the screen as there were no mosquitoes or flies flying. I was exiting the coach. I think one is more likely to get in trouble on those steps going down, and that may well be true for all steps. I was carrying a pair of binoculars in my left hand. I was a step or two down when I slipped. I was wearing tennis shoes/running shoes. I remember the feeling of the shoes sliding across the edge of the step when it should have been taking my weight - I'm 5-11" 160 lbs. Tuga mentions a handle. There is not much to grab inside my coach. If there ever was any kind of an inside handle, it is no longer there. The first handle opportunity is outside on the coach wall just to the left of the door as you enter. My fall had started well before I would have been able to reach that handle. On my right going out there are only the very smooth sides of the laminate and on the left, nothing at all. Right at the top of the stairs there are the two translucent posts that most people grasp when climbing the staris, but they don't offer much on the way down.

When I eventually return to living there, the memory will be strong and will probably be sufficient to prevent any future problems. I still think I will look hard at the stairs and see if any ideas come to mind to make them less hazardous. I sure will consider what Tuga has mentioned when I fully understand what he is suggesting.

Again - Thanks Guys - Russ

[HoosierDaddy]

My thoughts are with you Russ....
Dean

[RussWhite]

Thanks Dean! I can't wait to get back "to always fixing something". Russ

[smagown]

Hey Russ:

Hope you're feeling better. Your mishap has prompted me to cover my stairs with something like Tuga is suggesting.
Thanks,

[jwe648]

Sorry to hear about your mishap Russ... Hope your better soon... One other Solution is the 3M Safety Walk Tape. It comes in several widths & colors including clear.. We use it in the aircraft industry... It is aviaible in many hardware stores to include ACE... There is enough on a roll that several could share....

Jimmy

[prairieschooner]

This looks like the same stuff that we use on boats. I bought it by the foot at West Marine and used it at our cabin on the treads for the staircase. It comes in clear, white and black in different widths. It may even be the same stuff that is used in bathrooms.