Note: we are republishing this story which originally made the news in October 2017.
A New York mother is sharing the harrowing moment she was scalped after her long hair became entangled in a car’s fan belt.
Alon Abare, now reliant on a wig to cover her injuries, was dealing with a mechanical issue in October 2016. As she leaned under the hood, her hair got caught in the running fan belt.
“Without thinking, I reached in, and my hair got caught,” Abare told Inside Edition.
In a desperate situation, she screamed for help, and her children rushed to her aid.
“I told them, ‘Find a pair of scissors and cut Mommy’s hair out so I can get free,'” she recounted.
Her son, Sam, quickly turned off the engine while her daughter, Logan, carefully cut her hair to release her from the machinery.
“They were incredibly focused and driven by the need to help their mom,” Abare said, praising her children’s quick thinking.
Dr. Keimun Slaughter, treating Abare at the Williams Center for Plastic Surgery in Albany, aims to eventually prepare her scalp for a hair transplant. In the meantime, Abare uses a wig to cover her injuries.
“I wear my wig, and it feels like it’s still the same. But mentally, it’s a struggle,” she admitted tearfully.
To illustrate the danger, Inside Edition collaborated with auto safety expert Lauren Fix. They placed a wig on a mannequin under a car hood with the engine running, showing how quickly hair can become ensnared in a fan belt. The wig was immediately pulled in and tangled, just like Abare’s hair.
This incident underscores the dangers long hair poses not only with car engines but also with go-kart engines, farm machinery, and even amusement park rides.
Lauren Fix offers crucial advice for anyone working around vehicles: “Always pull your hair back. If you’re checking for a leak or replacing parts, make sure to secure your hair and remove anything that could get caught. And always turn off the vehicle.”
Here are additional safety tips:
Remove all jewelry, including bracelets and watches, as they can get caught or come into contact with electrical components.
Avoid wearing anything that dangles, such as ties or scarves.
Keep gloves in your car and wear them when working on it.
Many auto parts stores offer free assistance with tasks like replacing wiper blades and filters.
Alon Abare’s story is a powerful reminder of the unexpected dangers in everyday tasks. Her bravery and her children’s swift actions prevented a tragedy, highlighting the importance of safety precautions to avoid similar incidents.