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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

Well you are, if you expect First Aid from a soft play centre!!!

184 replies

Lucyellensmum100 · 03/09/2012 19:43

If you take your child to a soft play centre, they have no legal obligation whatsoever to provide first aid if your child injures itself. This from the Environmental health and safety officer at my local council.

Thankfully though, most places would probably rush to assist you. I wont name names because that would be wrong but my child was injured in a soft play centre in Herne Bay and we were offered no assistance or first aid equipment, in terms of towels to stem blood flow etc, someone to calm me and my daughter down because i was quite frankly in an total panic. They couldnt even tell me where the local Minor injuries unit was.

I reported this to the local authorities and they have said that the only come back i have is to file a civil case, which i dont want to do, the accident wasn't their fault, but some concern would have been nice. They have upheld the complaint in terms of them sending feedback to the place but can take no action as they have acted within the law - surely this can't be right???

Apparently the responsibility lies with the parents! well yes, of course it does, but i don't carry a first aid box around with me - i had to go to the toilets to try and find something to stem the blood flow (my DD had bitten through her tongue) I amd incredulous that this is apparently OK.

OP posts:
PunkChick · 03/09/2012 19:46

There's only 1 soft play in Herne Bay, isn't there...? >.<

I don't quite see what you're asking here, if indeed, you are asking something at all...?

gordyslovesheep · 03/09/2012 19:47

blimey :( I am quiet shocked by that - I thought all public places had to have first aiders at least

that is a bit poo really x

Original poster
Lucyellensmum100 · 03/09/2012 19:48

I don't know punk chick - is there?

Its quite simple, my daughter received a serious injury and had to go to hospital. The owners of this place offered zero assistance whatsoever. I complained and apparently that is perfectly ok. No duty of care Hmm

OP posts:
Original poster
Lucyellensmum100 · 03/09/2012 19:48

gordy - they do have a first aider apparently! but they only have a responsibility to their staff Hmm

OP posts:
Original poster
Lucyellensmum100 · 03/09/2012 19:49

I'm not asking anything, just expressing my surprise that this is the legal position.

OP posts:
PunkChick · 03/09/2012 19:49

There is, as far as I'm aware....
I used to work in a soft play in Dover, luckily I had done a first aid course before I started, as no-one else had the foggiest clue about it...it's not unreasonable to be pissed, no.... :(

LackingNameChangeInspiration · 03/09/2012 19:50

I don't expect it TBH, maybe in the bigger centres or ones within shopping/leisure centres..
but for small ones I see it like me taking my child to the playground
I think most would help you by passing a pile of napkins.. but first aid kits don't have towels or piles of napkins anyway!

hope your DD is feeling better though

VivaLeBeaver · 03/09/2012 19:51

Thats really sad.

I wonder if part of it is to do with fear of litigation? If a member of staff tries to help but makes it worse then you'd have a case against them?

Hope your dd is ok.

ItsAllGoingToBeFine · 03/09/2012 19:52

I have done some googling, and to my surprise it seems they are right. Employers have to provide first aid to employees, but not to members of the general public. Too my horror, it would also seem to apply to schools!

Original poster
Lucyellensmum100 · 03/09/2012 19:52

A pile of napkins would have been nice! i got sweet FA!! The point is more having someone trained to assist and offer support - i was on my own trying to calm my DD, call my DP to come and take us to Minor injuries and in two minds as to whether or not to call an ambulance.

OP posts:
mynewpassion · 03/09/2012 19:54

If you go to a restaurant, do you expect them to have a nurse on hand? It would be too expensive for small businesses to have a certified first aider there at all times.

The least you can expect is for them to call emergency services.

Original poster
Lucyellensmum100 · 03/09/2012 19:54

Viva, i think that there are some odd laws about that, like administering medication etc, but support and something to clean the area or at least stem the bleeding was all i needed.

OP posts:
EllenParsons · 03/09/2012 19:54

I am shocked by that. In a place like soft play you can expect a few injuries to occur now and again when kids are active and excited, so I would definitely have expected them to have at least some kind of first aid. The attitude they had sounds awful :( Hope your poor DD's feeling better and got it sorted at the hospital!

LackingNameChangeInspiration · 03/09/2012 19:56

A pile of napkins would have been nice! i got sweet FA!! The point is more having someone trained to assist and offer support - i was on my own trying to calm my DD, call my DP to come and take us to Minor injuries and in two minds as to whether or not to call an ambulance

that's just bad customer service. You don't need to be a first aider to be helpful and bring napkins
a first aider wouldn't have been able do much more in this circumstance and probably would have left the decision about ambulance up to you.

Original poster
Lucyellensmum100 · 03/09/2012 19:56

mynewpassion - you are wrong though, they absolutely do have to have a first aider on hand at ALL times, but only for their staff! Why would i expect a nurse in a resturant? It is not unheard of for children to sustain injuries in these places therefore a first aider to ASSIST THE PARENTS or guardian is not unreasonable IMO.

OP posts:
SauvignonBlanche · 03/09/2012 19:57

I wouldn't expect there to be a legal obligation to provide first aid.
I speak as someone who works for a charity that was sued as a result of a first aiders perfectly reasonable actions. Sad

HereBenson · 03/09/2012 19:58

Happened to my DH. DS was injured and spurting blood, DH fainted (yes, really) and the staff did nothing and wouldn't provide anything to help. Luckily he was with a group which included two nurses, so they took charge.

SauvignonBlanche · 03/09/2012 19:58

People are more likely to choke in a restaurant though?

Original poster
Lucyellensmum100 · 03/09/2012 20:00

In this instance all i needed was some CLEAN napkins other than the toilet rolls from the toilet FLOOR, too lazy to put them in the holders no doubt, but saying this was a head injury, a broken bone etc - would i have been expected to simply cope on my own? Obviously i would in a public area, accidents happen and i would cope as i did cope this weekend but i paid money to go there, but it would appear that standing around gossiping was more important than my screaming child who's mouth was pouring with blood - saying she had bitten through an artery? FFS she could have bled to death!

OP posts:
Sirzy · 03/09/2012 20:00

To send staff member of a first aid course doesn't need to cost a lot and it is certainly good practise to staff members trained and willing to assist members of the public especially in a location where bumps are pretty likely.

Did they record the incident in their accident book?

SauvignonBlanche · 03/09/2012 20:00

I imagine that providing first aiders may be suggesting (from a negligence point of view) that harm may be caused by a visit to their establishment?

brandysoakedbitch · 03/09/2012 20:02

I am sorry for you and your dd but really it is your responsibility to deal with things certainly keeping yourself and your dd calm. And why on Earth would you consider calling an ambulance for something so minor. I know it is shocking but really did you consider that? Just get in a cab and go to a and e.

For the record I have a child with a very serious illness so it takes an awful lot for me to panic about small things like this. My bar is set very high so you might think I am being a bit short shrift but surely you must appreciate that small business cannot afford to train people. Places like these are full of unskilled people on minimum wage so you are being unreasonable.

sleepybump · 03/09/2012 20:02

I worked in a large toy shop once and accidents do happen. No obligation to give first aid, but staff would offer to call an ambulance/ perhaps give you somewhere private to go if needed and maybe ask if there was anything they could do to help... That's just common courtesy. If you didn't get that i'd write to them complaining about poor customer service!

Sirzy · 03/09/2012 20:02

Sauvignon - I know you can't give any details but where they successfully sued or just someone attempting?

Nevercan · 03/09/2012 20:03

I have to say my local place is v good and they provided help when my dd1 hurt herself by bring over first aid kit and asking if there was anything they could do. They also have an accident book and asked if I wanted to fill it out. You would hope for that as basic customer service in a child orientated place even if they don't have to do it IMO