Daughter in hospital - full thickness burns

[Nightmarehairinjury]

Title says it all really. I took dd to have her hair coloured today - and she's ended up in burns ward, with full thickness chemical burn on her forehead and a 50/50 chance of needing a skin graft. WTF??? Can't believe it.

Am in bits.

(have namechanged)

So glad your dd is home. What a terrible time for you all. Big hugs to you both.

What will you do about the hairdresser?

So glad your dd is home. What a terrible time for you all. Big hugs to you both.

What will you do about the hairdresser?

So glad your dd is home. What a terrible time for you all. Big hugs to you both.

What will you do about the hairdresser?

Apart from considering private legal action, have you reported this to the relevant authorities yet.

She's not home yet, at least another night - hoping swelling goes down more.

Who should we be reporting it to?

I would report to health & safety - there should be an incident report done and they should have reported it directly. I’d also chuck in trading standards.

I suggested Trading Standards,
I noticed someone else made a different suggestion.
Maybe start with your local authority and go from there i.e. Environmental Health / Trading Standards ( some Councils have both departments under one section )

Google/AI says the following:
You can report a hairdresser for dangerous practices to the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) or your local council's environmental health department for workplace safety issues. For issues with specific services or products, you can contact the Care Quality Commission (CQC) in England or Safety in Beauty which handles complaints for various professional bodies. For concerns about practitioners registered with the Joint Council for Cosmetic Practitioners (JCCP), contact them directly at [email protected]

I’d have a word with citizens advice or similar OP, unless your solicitor friend can advise. Health and Safety is probably a good starting point as the legality of the procedures they were obliged to follow is in question here, as well as the failure to meet any industry standards or accreditations.

I wouldn’t report them yet. Firstly, they are obligated under the H&S act to self-report when an accident leads to hospitalisation and if they haven’t, or the longer they take, the worse it will be for them. Also, you don’t want them going out of business before you make a massive claim on their PLI.

Aww, but she's in the best place.
Keep your chin up and sending strength to your lass 🌹

Id have said environmental health/hse as a starting point. Maybe trading standards? They'd atleast be able to signpost you if not them.

The salon should have already reported it is have thought. Though they may instead be already 'losing' any evidence. Im assuming no samples of whatever they used was ever provided for trading to ascertain what caused it?

I’d also be in contact with the local council ! Because they have to have things in place to run a salon x

That’s awful, I’m very sorry. Your poor DD. The hairdresser will (should) have insurance to cover this and you should absolutely claim. I’d make enquiries with the local council’s health and safety team as well as this is a serious issue which should be investigated to prevent other members of the public being exposed to injury as a result of negligence.

They should have reported the accident to RIDDOR as it has required hospitalisation etc.

You can contact the HSE yourself to check they have already done this. https://www.hse.gov.uk/contact/tell-us-about-a-health-and-safety-issue.htm There is a web form or they is a number you can call to speak to someone. I would call as if you aren’t talking to the right person they will hopefully be able to pass you on to the correct one.

When my mum was at the end of her life, she was desperate for her hair to be washed but we could not move her and the inflatable bowl I bought did not really work well. We found these things online that look like shower caps but you put them on and massage gently and they act like shampoo. It was a real relief. I got them on Amazon I think. Just looked at they are called shampoo caps.

You’re really showing yourself up here.

Absolutely I agree with you - but the poster I was responding to said it was likely done deliberately, which is what I was responding to.

Thank you, will ask consultant about using these. The graft goes slightly into her hairline and obviously don't want to do anything which will put it at risk.

Swelling is dropping down her face, she's like a little hamster just now. Fingers crossed she'll get out tomorrow.

Post is already pretty outing, pic below of dressing.

In for a penny... Pic she sent from hairdressers and when she was admitted. Don't open if squeamish. Look as if on opposite sides - one's a selfie

Once it has healed if she is concerned about how it looks she could cover it with a fringe.

What is her natural hair colour? Will she be ok with letting the colour grow out? I suspect she won’t be able to dye it again, or might not ever want to!

I hope she is home soon. Is half term about to start or end?

She's naturally brown. Fringe is being considered. Past half term here, don't think she'll be back to school for a few days - at least until initial dressing is off.

Your poor daughter 😢 I really hope she recovers quickly - truly awful!

And for what the case is worth, I hope you are suitably successful because their negligence, and lack of care/accountability is appalling and should be dealt with.

healing vibes

Something I just realised today is that although the hairdressers have said they are shocked and upset by what's happening they haven't once actually said sorry. I know that they won't want to admit liability, but they could at least have said that they are sorry this has happened, that they'd like to work with us to figure out what went wrong? Utter shits.

They’ll be worrying that saying sorry could be seen as admission of liability.

It’s like people say if you’re ever in a car accident never admit anything/never say sorry.

They are probably misunderstanding and being too cautious but I can see how that lack of apology is upsetting.

I feel so sorry for you and your daughter. It must be incredibly difficult.