In October 2016, Alon Abare’s long hair got caught in her car’s running fan belt while she was addressing a mechanical issue. “Without thinking, I reached in, and my hair got caught,” she shared with Inside Edition. In distress, she called for her children, who acted quickly to help. Her son turned off the engine while her daughter carefully cut her hair to free her. “They were incredibly focused and driven by the need to help their mom,” Abare praised.

Dr. Keimun Slaughter, treating Abare at the Williams Center for Plastic Surgery, is working to prepare her scalp for a hair transplant. For now, Abare wears a wig and faces a mental struggle despite looking the same. “I wear my wig, and it feels like it’s still the same. But mentally, it’s a struggle,” she admitted.

To demonstrate the risk, Inside Edition and auto safety expert Lauren Fix conducted an experiment showing how quickly hair can become entangled in a fan belt. This highlights the dangers posed by long hair around machinery, including car engines, farm equipment, and amusement rides.

Lauren Fix advises, “Always pull your hair back. If you’re checking for a leak or replacing parts, secure your hair and remove anything that could get caught. And always turn off the vehicle.” Additional tips include removing jewelry, avoiding loose clothing, wearing gloves, and utilizing free services from auto parts stores. Abare’s story underscores the importance of safety precautions in preventing similar accidents.