My son was trapped in a deflated bouncy castle. AIBU to complain?

[knackeredmother]

I was at a party today with my 2 dc in a leisure centre, bouncy castle in a small enclosed room with door locked so no one could 'escape'. Suddenly realised I'd lost sight of my 3 year old son and then saw the staff were deflating the bouncy castle. I asked if they were sure there was no one left in it and they assured me they'd checked and carried on deflating. I began to panic, I couldn't see my son anywhere, they carried on deflating. Another mum heard a 'gasping noise' and managed to somehow dive in through the back of the now deflated castle and pull out my son. He was struggling to breathe, I think more through fright and after hysterics was ultimately ok.
The staff weren't interested, didn't apologise or ask if he was ok.
I then asked to see the manager at the front desk, she wasn't available and the lady was completely uninterested and said 'well he's ok isn't he?'.
This was quite a big castle, I think an adult would struggle to fight their way out if inside, I shudder to think what would have happened if the other mum hadn't heard him and pulled him out.
Now I realise I should have been watching him but it really only seemed like a few moments that I lost sight of him and I probably wasn't as vigilant as usual knowing the door to the room was locked. So should I complain about this or accept it was my responsibility to have not lost sight of him? Or is it really a non event? My dh thinks so but it really scared me and him.

how scary. Your poor ds must have been absolutely terrified.

I don't know what your parkwood is staffed with, ours w#seems to be full of disaffected teenagers waiting for thie big break, absiolutely killing time with an air of apathy.

Oh dear god, that is the stuff of nightmares, makes me feel sick thinking about it, like the time my 4yo DD almost got off the tube without me.

Definitely complain to the highest level, and if you get no response take it to the local paper.

Hope your little DS is ok, and that you have had a stiff drink!

oh my god i'd be livid! YANBU at all. so scary and dangerous and could like another poster effect them later in life.

and if you get no response blacken their name ... local paper, fb, radio whatever!!

Bloody hell you poor thing, there could have been such a bad outcome here.
I would absolutely complain.

Your story has just made my blood run cold. You need to take this to the absolute highest level - it sounds like there has been complete disregard for h&s procedure.

I know we don't do them here, but I'm sending you a hug.

I'd go mental - definitely complain.

I just do not understand why they would start deflating while there were still children running about in the room. They should have waited for them to have left the room. Otherwise children could run back on. Just stupid.

I'd go directly to the HSE copying the leisure group and local council in. As others have said it's a serious matter. There was a case a couple of years ago where a child died on a bouncy castle at a back garden birthday party. The parents pursued the party child's parents through the courts for providing inadequate supervision on the inflatable. I'd imagine leisure centre staff should be more than clued up on safe use of equipment.

LDaisy Did you mean to sound so twunty?

What a horrible post LDaisy. Keeping an eye on an active child for every single second at a pary that lasts for a couple of hours is unrealistic and very hard to do. It means that you can't even turn your head to talk to the person next to you.

Party not pary!

Regardless of who is to blame, the attitude of the staff was dreadful.

That is shocking. I would go to the local paper - it will discourage people from booking parties there and could avoid a tragedy.

LDaisy the OP knew/strongly suspected where her child was-on the bouncy castle-but the staff wouldn't liten and stop deflating it.

There's always one...

YANBU at all. Very, very scary and serious. Definitely complain, if no response tell the local press or Twitter. They'll respond then...

This is quite shocking, the way they didn't stop when you were looking for him is the worst bit.

Take care of both of you, a scare like that can be upsetting for a while.

And complain like mad.

LDasiy You must be the perfect parent then and also one of those people who wastes social services' time and thus, punishes those who really do need help.

Oh and btw YANBU OP.

LDaisy but what if the mother had not been at the party? Ultimately it is up to the staff at the leisure centre to ensure correct operation of equipment and that H&S procedures are followed.