The killer fan looked like this. Image via Wikipedia
It was the summer when I was 3 or 4. I was drinking milk on a bench and because the Manila heat was unbearable, the electric fan was right beside me. My mom turned her back for a minute and like all accidents (also because it was me, the founder of Murphy’s Law), that’s when it happened. I was hypnotized by the metal blades spinning in the metal cage with giant gaps — typical of fans in the ’70s (late ’70s to be exact — very late ’70s). I couldn’t stop myself from sticking my small fingers in it (even if my mother probably told me not to 10 million times before). After that, it was a blur. Someone screaming (my mom or I — I couldn’t tell), my bloody fingers wrapped in a towel, a mad rush to the E.R., injections, stitches, my dad trying not to faint from fear.
I am literally scarred for life because of that incident (among many other childhood battle scars which I will reveal in future posts — siblings beware!) – all because of that monster fan.
30 years later, the fans have plastic blades and are “more safe” but you never know with kids. I tend to freak out when my daughter (same age as I was then) goes near a whirring fan. I can only imagine what my mom went through.
And then, just when I thought the innovation among fans would just be a lame 3-layered spinning fan (you know what I’m talking about right?), I discovered the Dyson Air Multiplier.
Dyson Air Multiplier available at Dyson.com
Dyson’s description:
Dyson Air Multiplier™ fans work differently from conventional fans. They use Air Multiplier™ technology to draw in air and amplify it – from 15 to 18 times, depending on the model. With no blades or grille, they’re safe and easy to clean (I love it already!). And they produce an uninterrupted stream of smooth air, with no unpleasant buffeting.
I want one now! I want to throw all caution to the wind (pun intended) and put my scarred hand through it (without fear of cuts, tetanus or trapped dirt). It’s safe. It’s cool. It looks like the easiest fan to clean!!
The big hindrance: it costs $449.99.
But it’s so easy to clean! … I wonder if the tall one disassembles and fits into a balikbayan box.
©OCMominManila
Wow! I want one now too! Mahal naman. Are they environmental-friendly too?
Apparently, they are. They use environmental engineering.
http://www.dyson.com/environment/default.asp?pageRef=technology
or you can just get a net fan cover. i have a blue one. still nowhere as safe as dyson’s (which eliminates blades altogether), but pwede na rin para sa munting pinoy home.
http://www.alibaba.com/product-gs/326024319/Jacquard_mosquito_net_fan_cover.html
Your comment was classified as spam. WordPress thought you were selling something because of the link! Haha. This looks interesting. Thanks Polly!
Ooh! I want one of these. Pero at that price dapat aircon na din sya!
My sister had the tip of one finger sheared off by those old metal electric fans as well when we were kids so I live in fear of them. Although the honeywell fans have very small gaps, too small for tiny fingers, so they’re pretty safe. They’re just dust magnets.
They ARE dust magnets! It’s so hard to clean them.