PLEASE READ - A WARNING TO ALL MUMS!

[mammabelleboo]

Wasn't too sure where to post this, so thought I'd use this category as it's a popular one and I want as many mums to read this as possible.

My 2 yr old dd had a near miss of an accident this morning involving an infirm lady in a motorised wheelchair and I want to warn all other mums to keep their little ones as far away from these lethal things as possible.

I was in the local Co-op queueing at the till when I decided I fancied a bar of choc so I asked my little one to go and choose me one......big mistake. The choc was by this old lady in the wheelchair and I think she meant to reverse the chair to let dd get to the choc easier but accidentally put it into fast forward and my dd ended up being dragged horizontally along by the chair and was squashed in between the chair and the cash counter. The old lady was in such a flap, she wasn't concentrating on stopping the thing. I was absolutely helpless and the look of panic on my dd's face will stay with me to my dying day. An ambulance was called - thankfully she is OK and just has a very grazed abdomen and a bit of shock - it could have been so much worse. My fear was that at any minute she was going to go under the wheels of this thing and the consequences of a 2 yr old being run over by a heavy chair with a hefty old lady sat in it dosn't bear thinking about.....I am one grateful mummy, someone was watching over her today - words can't describe how lucky I feel that she's in one piece..........she can play up merry hell today - I don't care!!!!!

I don't want any other mum to experience what I did today - panic, hysteria (a few choice words were said to the old lady, I think the odd f word here and there , completely lost the plot basically and thought I was going to lose dd . Please be aware of these motorised chairs - the ambulance lady said they get called to so many incidents of old people losing control of them and running people down. At the end of the day the combination of being old and slow coupled with infirmity equals dulled reflexes - I don't think they should be allowed to use them unless they can prove they are in control. Keep your little ones well away. x.

[belgo]

how awful. My dds wer out with their grandmother one day and were nearly knowcked over by one of these chairs on the pavement. The man in the chair didn't even notice them at all.

I'm glad it wasn't any worse for your dd. How scarey.

[LadySnowsAlot]

poor you
hope your dd is ok.

[mishymoo]

oh poor you and your DD - hope she isn't too bruised!!

The drivers of those bat-mobiles should be made to sit some kind of test! They really do think they are invinsible and are extremely dangerous!

[onepieceoflollipop]

That's horrible mammabelleboo - what a shock for you and your dd.

There was a thread recently on similar lines (or this may have been a subject that arose out of a different thread as they sometimes do). I am rubbish at finding other threads though.

It's good to be aware of these things, also outside it gets dark so early and that of course increases the risks.

[chibi]

how awful

[sarahhal]

There was actually a death in a town I once lived in from an accident like this

Hope that you DD is ok and that you are not too much in shock.

[lucyellensmum]

mammabellaboo - what a nightmare!!

Big hugs to you and your DD, poor wee mite. I cant stand those bloody things, why is it that they feel that when they drive them along the pavement everyone has to move out of their way - quickly! You dont barge into people when you are walking along, it does not suddenly become ok to do this because you have a disability. Of course i would accomodate most of the drivers of these things who are considerate, but you just get some old bags who think they entitle them to the whole fecking pavement/shop/the world.

[CarmenerryChristmas]

Gosh that is grim, you poor thing. Yes there have been a number of threads about this very subject recently.
Whilst I think the motability that they provide to older people is great, I definitely think that there needs to be a test before you can use one. It is only a matter of time before a child gets killed by one which will no doubt ruin the lives of all involved. What I mean is that for the sake of the old people too, it would be better if there was a test, no one wants to live the rest of their lives having a death on their conscience.

[Hulababy]

Poor you and poor DD. Glad she is okay.

[Acinonyx]

What a horrible experience for you and dd. Glad she is OK.

[Weegle]

How awful for you . I hope your DD doesn't show fear of them in the future.

I too agree they are great for enabling the infirm to get out but I seriously think they need a top speed of 4 miles per hour, same as walking, especially if they are to be used in shops and on pavements. They also should have to have insurance.

[NAB3littlemonkeys]

what a bloody thing to happen. Did the lady apologise? What did the staff do? Poor you and your DD.

[needmorecoffee]

Was it a powered wheelchair or one of those scooter things?
Glad you LO is ok. What an awful shock.

[KittyLetteItSnow]

oNE OF THESE REVERSED INTO ME THE OTHER DAY IN sOMERFIELD, AND THE OLD FELLA LOOKED AT ME AS IF IT WERE MY FAULT!! i WAS JUST STOOD THERE.

Oops caps sorry - Im not shouting lol

Really sorry about your DD

Do the old folk just buy these and drive them away or do they have to learn how?

[Lazarou]

an old guy drove into my sons pushchair on one of those scooters but luckily the frame took the brunt.
Very frightening though Mamma, not surprised you were shaken up.

[needmorecoffee]

Ols people often buy those scooters cos they don't want to look 'disabled' in a power wheelchair. The scooters are much heavier and a real bugger to steer. Like little cars really.

[mammabelleboo]

Thank you all so much for your kind wishes and support. DD has been bright as a button this afternoon - I think the trauma has been forgotten - by her at least! She has been proudly showing off her battle scars to her Daddy! Apart from breaking down while making a cauli cheese for tea, i think I'm OK - I just keep thinking of what could have happened and could I have done anything to stop it. It all happened so quickly but I wish I'd have had the lightening reflexes to have scooped her up out of harms way like Superman would have . I have to be thankful - and by God I am - that she escaped relatively unscathed...keep thinking of that poor mum whose little girl fell under the wheels of that lorry last week when she let go of the pram for a minute.......how do you ever begin to cope with that???

In answer to your question NAB3, no the lady didn't apologise and left the shop while I was waiting for the ambulance, so presumably couldn't even be bothered to wait around to see if dd was OK - hope she can sleep with her conscience tonight. The staff were great - called the ambulance and picked up my purse and bag & shopping which I'd dropped all over the floor in my panic and gave me loads of support til the ambulance came.

I agree with a lot of your comments and think these scooters must be a lifeline if your mobility is impaired - but there should be proper assessments to see how fit and able a person is to use them - if they are too old, doddery, panicky or just plain stupid they should never be allowed to have one or they should always be accompanied by a responsible adult. I also think they should be banned from being used in shops where there are loads of people in very often confined spaces where it's not always easy to get out of their way. x.

[mammabelleboo]

Thank you all so much for your kind wishes and support. DD has been bright as a button this afternoon - I think the trauma has been forgotten - by her at least! She has been proudly showing off her battle scars to her Daddy! Apart from breaking down while making a cauli cheese for tea, i think I'm OK - I just keep thinking of what could have happened and could I have done anything to stop it. It all happened so quickly but I wish I'd have had the lightening reflexes to have scooped her up out of harms way like Superman would have . I have to be thankful - and by God I am - that she escaped relatively unscathed...keep thinking of that poor mum whose little girl fell under the wheels of that lorry last week when she let go of the pram for a minute.......how do you ever begin to cope with that???

In answer to your question NAB3, no the lady didn't apologise and left the shop while I was waiting for the ambulance, so presumably couldn't even be bothered to wait around to see if dd was OK - hope she can sleep with her conscience tonight. The staff were great - called the ambulance and picked up my purse and bag & shopping which I'd dropped all over the floor in my panic.

I agree with a lot of your comments and think these scooters must be a lifeline if your mobility is impaired - but there should be proper assessments to see how fit and able a person is to use them - if they are too old, doddery, panicky or plain stupid they should never be allowed to have one.

[moljam]

your poor dd and poor you!glad alls ok.

[bubblepop]

oh my god how bloody awful. glad your little ones ok

[niece]

They should have to pass a test or something, cos most of them don't even have a driving license, and from what i have seen they look very difficult to control.
I have nearly been run over by an old man who must have had it tuned up or something, cos he was going like the clappers!
I think he was aiming for me lol.
Glad shes ok.

[needmorecoffee]

I reckon they should have to have a test. I'm disabled and use a powered wheelchair (not a scooter) and you have to pass an NHS test before they let you lose with it. Wheelchairs are far less dangerous than scooters.
Neice, I do find it scary that old people are in cars. They will have a licence (its mandatory) but past 70 they just sign a form each year saying they feel chipper. So get to keep their licence without anyone checking they can see/steer etc

[WalkingCinderWinterWonderland]

Oh Mamma ? I am so glad DD is OK!

My DH grandfather, past 70, still drives a car, and in the last 6 months has had his wing mirror replace 4 times, yet doesn?t recall where he lost them. He clearly hit something with some fore to break them off. And they were off-side to him, so pavement side. I am disgusted that someone so close to me puts people?s lives in danger. I think a full, proper test should be taken every year. I wouldn?t object, because it?s about safety, although by the time I?m 70, the powers that be might have realised and have done something about it!

[loopylou6]

bloody hell, your poor lil dd, and poor u , its funny actually coz i was only saying to dh yesterday that these things shouldnt be allowed, some little old lady was holding a row of traffic up with hers yesterday ON THE ROAD they are very dangerous things if ua sk me, big hugs to u and dd