Child at gym burnt hand on my hair straightener

[Geraderaus]

I had a rather alarming thing happen this morning and would appreciate your take on it. I was at the gym in the changing room after a work out. I was drying my hair like I do there regularly and had plugged in my hair straighteners and they were sitting on the surface in front of me. I do this regularly, it's allowed to use your own things like this in the gym and many people do.

A woman with a toddler about two years old came next to me and she stared drying her hair. We were both stood up and the toddler was climbing on a little stool. The toddler reached across to my hair straightener (heating up, the plates were very hot) and I quickly said "no don't touch that!" And moved them to my other side further away from the child (who had not touched them by this point). The mother saw this and batted her child's hand away. The mother was not speaking English to the child so not sure if she understood me it in the context it couldn't have been more obvious what was said.

I continued to dry my hair and the child was toddling about and trying to grab things like my make up bag which I just kept moving away from him but it's a small area and it was all within his reach. The mother seemed to tell him off once or twice. When I was still drying my hair the toddler lunged at the straighteners and they fell to the floor burning his arm, probably quite badly. I rushed as best I could to grab them and move them but it happened in a split second and was too late by then. The mother was hysterical and screaming at me in a language I didn't understand, she was furious and other people came over including staff.

The child was taken to hospital and gym staff have noted my name and contact details. Can there be any repercussions for this? What did I do wrong?

[ConvincingLiar]

No criminal offence. At most she could sue you for negligence. I think you'd have a pretty good defence on the basis that you did what you could to keep the child away, it was her responsibility to supervise the child and she was aware of the risk (or should have been). Poor little thing.

[Candlestickchick]

You did nothing wrong. You are entitled to use your straighteners. The sole cause of this accident was the mother's lack of supervision.

[GeillisTheWitch]

You didn't do anything wrong. She knew they were there, she should have removed her child from the situation if she couldn't physically stop him from grabbing them.

[braceybracegirl]

I can't see you did anything wrong. You warned them and her child is her responsibility. Might be nice to phone the gym and enquire how he is?

[Dilligaf81]

I dont think their could be repurcussions as you were using them and its a prents responsibility to watch their children.
Must have been awful for all concerned but to vpame you would be well out of order.

[Sirzy]

She should have been watching her child.

If she couldn't supervise closely she should have left drying her hair until she got home.

You have done nothing wrong

[Mummamayhem]

Bloody hell poor you! Other than moving them out of harms way what else could you do? The mum was probably just shocked so shouted but really she should have moved her little one as soon as he went for them. I don't think it was your fault but I'm sure it feels pretty rubbish, hopefully they'll update you just so you're not left worrying.

[scottishdiem]

Totally not your fault. Definitely the mothers.

At worst the only repercussion will be the gym changing its policy on the use of straighteners.

[Stiddleficks]

What others have said, I don't possible see how this could be your fault. The mother should have been more watchful. Poor child though.

[Hysterectical]

Yuck, what kind of gym has toddlers in the changing room? She sounds horrible and a bit stupid. I hope she doesn't ambulance chase.

[5madthings]

This was in changing room and you are all allowed to be in there, is it usual for there to be children?

Was there really no where to put the straighteners out of reach of the child? I mean mother should have kept an eye on child but I would have put them out if reach or held them out the way.

I wouldn't think there would be any repercussions in that you are allowed to use the straighteners there? And the mother and child were also allowed to be there?

Maybe highlights the need for a playpen or somewhere secure for little ones. Our changing rooms have a playpen, plastic fenced off area for little ones. Or could she have brought in buggy to strap little one in? Just wondering what the set up is.

[alltouchedout]

Although I know it's inconvenient and the child wasn't yours and is the responsibility of their carer, yu shouldn't have turned them on until you could give them your full attention.
Its not that I am blaming you as such, it's just that straighteners can cause such bad burns so quickly that you shouldn't take any chances.

[LeadPipe]

That's awful OP and definitely not your fault. I really don't think you can in any way be held accountable for the lack of parental supervision.

[MeetMeAtMidnight]

Not your fault at all, I don't see what else you could have done, the child was supposed to be under the supervision of his mother i.e. her job to parent and she failed. Poor little guy, hope he's ok, but if the mum is looking for someone to blame I'd suggest a mirror.

[KlingybunFistelvase]

I don't think you did anything wrong. I'm really surprised she shouted at you tbh! Maybe she was just lashing out as she felt a bit guilty?
I remember having to run across a road as someone's baby had been left sitting in a luggage trolley at the airport and it was rolling towards the road. I grabbed the trolley just in time as nobody else seemed to be doing anything to stop it, including the parents who were fucking about in the car and hadn't even seen what was happening. Anyway, I remember the mother glaring at me as if I'd done something wrong! The father was very grateful, but the mum just stomped back into the car with the baby. Meh!

Anyway, I can't imagine there would be any repercussions except maybe the gym not allowing hair straighteners any more.

[ChampagneSupernovaX]

I wouldn't know if there would be any repercussions as such but it's definitely not your fault - if my son was going around taking things out of people's bags I'd be straight there! She was neglecting her duty as a Mum to keep an eye on him!

[AVirginLitTheCandle]

She should have been keeping an eye on her child.

[MusterTheRohirim]

Where was the child while the woman was showering?!? Or exercising even? It makes no sense they were even there.

[Jurassicbaby]

It's not really your fault and she should have been supervising her child more. I don't think there'll be any repercussions.

But, straighteners are so dangerous I don't think you should ever leave them unattended where there are other people. Even an adult could get badly burnt if they knocked into them.

[Toffeewhirl]

Absolutely not your fault. If I was the mother, I would be feeling very guilty. I expect that was why she shouted at you. How awful for you.

I hope her child is ok.

[LeadPipe]

Jurassicbaby the hair straighteners were on the surface in front of the OP.

[Jurassicbaby]

I know but I'd want to keep hold of them really once they were turned on. That's just me though, I still don't think it's ops fault. The toddler shouldn't have been in there grabbing things at all.

[ChipIn]

Totally not your fault. The straightener was hardly unattended if it was right in front of you. You tried to move it out of the way, the mother knew the child was interested in them and should have removed her child if the situation was too dangerous.

[purplefizz26]

Her child, her problem.
She should have been watching more carefully and moved the child well away.

I would never let my child touch another persons belongings, never mind repeatedly and never mind knowing a dangerous object was there.

[ijustwannadance]

Not your fault.