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.

[elizaregina]

havant read thru but of course complain , more than him getting trapped it s the staffs attitude that frightens me more...

[elizaregina]

Papers too?

[ChippingInNeedsSleepAndCoffee]

Fucking hell. My heart is racing just reading that! I can't believe your DH thinks it's a 'non event'

They should not have been deflating it when the children were still there.

Their attitudes are disgraceful & disgusting.

Escalate it to the highest level, sod the manager.

No one with half a brain thinks you did anything wrong. You were in what should have been a 'safe' environment where you didn't need to keep your eye on your 3 yo every single minute.

They were doing something incredibly dangerous - fucking idiots.

[DoubleLifeIsALifeHalved]

That's terrible, you must have been so scared. Not ok to have dismissed your concerns, & definitely needs following up.

[LittleChimneyDroppings]

Hell no, take it as far as you can. Its lucky that your ds is ok. If the staff are that irresponsible with potentially dangerous equipment then they shouldn't be allowed to operate it in the first place. Stupid bloody idiots.

[RibenaFiend]

You are absolutely NBU! Bloody hell. Complain. Have a stern conversation with the manager and demand to read their risk assessments for the equipment.

My friend's family had a few bouncy castles when I was growing up. It was wonderful because in the days pre trampolines in everyone's gardens we could go and bounce ourselves silly when they weren't being hired at the weekend... As we got older we would deflate them on each other. At 12 I passed out as I couldn't breathe under a deflating castle. I was a swimmer with good body strength and a great lung capacity and used to a lot of rough play (including trying to drown each other!) but a bouncy castle is worst than being pulled under water by your friend on your ankles... They are thick, airtight plastic and they are horrendously heavy. Your DC was very very lucky.

Please speak to the centre OP

[RibenaFiend]

Best I could come up with OP

Parkwood Leisure Head Office, Perdiswell Park, Droitwich Road, Worcester, WR3 7NW

I would put it in writing. I would also send it recorded delivery but that's my experience

[OpheliaBumps]

Try [email protected] as email addresses seem to be first.lastname

[email protected] is Their Operations Director, so try him too.

Complain complain complain, that is a terrifying OP.

[TinyDancingHoofer]

This is so different to what i expected when i clicked. YADNBU. When i was little we used to get the bouncy castle deflated and reflated because it was fun crawling through. I thought you were going to be complaining about someone doing that. But this is so different. I can't believe they didn't clear the room or at least the near area to deflate esp. with 3yos around. So dangerous, you need to complain and try to get them to change procedure or staff safety training.

[M0naLisa]

God how terrifying. Glad your ds is ok but I would complain. I don't like bouncy castles as a kid I banged my nose and it bled like a fucker since then I hate them. I'm at a party tomorrow with ds2 (4) and I hope there's no bouncy castle

[MusicalEndorphins]

Would that act like that is if were William and Kates child rapped inside?
I think not.
Yanbu.

[MusicalEndorphins]

*trapped

[LoopsInHoops]

I would be furious.

A very strongly worded complain by email, followed up by letter, CCd to the Chiefe exec and the H&S executive.

Is it a leisure centre funded by council? Them too.

Email should say what happened, what you expect to happen, and that they have 24 hours to respond before you go to the papers.

[pumpkinsweetieMasPudding]

Yanbu, i would file a complaint against them.
If it wasn't for that lady, i dread think about what may have happened.
It's not your fault, you took your eyes of him for a few seconds. We are all human.
They should have checked, im astounded they never even apoligised

[Wheresmycaffeinedrip]

Bloody hell how horrific :(

What the hell are they doing deflating it when the kids were still around anyway? Three year olds are all dare devils they would never for a second think about being safe.

A locked room, children's play area- whole point of these places is so they can run around in a safe area where they can't hurt themselves. Where they can get let off the reins and not have mummy inches away at all times!

Complain! Definately complain!!!

[Shutupanddrive]

Shocking! Yes definately complain, I would be furious

[knackeredmother]

Small update: I've spoken to the duty manager today who did apologise but said the staff members story was different to mine. She said the staff member checked the castle was empty but when she went to the back of the castle to unplug it my son must have sneaked back on.
I've asked my son who says he was hiding behind the stairs of the slide that was incorporated into the castle as he wanted to stay on. He's just turned 3 and his speech isn't great so I'm not sure what really happened.
Either way perhaps they should have a policy to deflate when everyone has left the room or have 2 staff members doing it.
I mentioned that no one seemed bothered or checked on him but to be honest I think she thought I was over reacting.

[knackeredmother]

Should add I have an email drafted that I am sending to head of parkwood leisure, the centre manager, the local council (Parkwood run it on their behalf) and the local HSE. Just getting a lawyer friend who was present to check it over.
Thanks to all those who looked up addresses and for all the lovely supportive comments.

[PurpleStorm]

YANBU.

Definitely complain. In writing. I'd be sending a copy of my written complaint to my local council and HSE offices too. I don't think that the duty manager's response is adequate. You're not over-reacting. This incident could have had tragic consequences if the other mum hadn't rescued your son.

The staff members in charge of deflating the bouncy castle should check thoroughly that no-one's still in it before they start deflating it (and checking this is the responsibility of the person deflating the bouncy castle, not the responsibility of the parents).

They should also ensure that no-one sneaks back onto the bouncy castle while it's being deflated. Again, this is their responsibility, and not anyone else's. If the bouncy castle's so large that the staff can't spot a child sneaking back on (possibly the case, if it's one of the big ones with a built in slide), they shouldn't be deflating it when there's still kids in the room.

They need need retraining and better safety procedures for bouncy castles.

[LynetteScavo]

Just to add, when I have been at private parties when a castle is being deflated, there have been lots off calls that it's about to be deflated, the person switching it off checks that everyone has accounted for their DC, and only then deflates.

This obviously didn't happen. I think you should sugest their deflating policy includes all children being accounted for before deflation, or no deflation while guests are present.

[13Iggis]

Can't believe they are trying to blame a 3 year old for "sneaking on". They obviously hadn't waited till every child was claimed by a parent, had they?
I can't see why they needed to deflate it when the kids were in the room. Sounds like they were trying to save themselves some time.

[StillSmilingAfterAllTheseYears]

I think you should take it further and agree copy to HSE/local council to make them take it seriously.

Doesn't matter if he was hiding or snuck back on does it, he was at risk and that is something to avoid in future.

[PessaryPam]

Yes report the whole thing to the council, this is what they are there for.

[morethanpotatoprints]

Hello Op.

I am a leisure Management graduate with knowledge of the law regarding H&S.
Not only should you complain but you need to inform the authorities. Firstly without seeing the room, I'm pretty sure the door should not have been locked. Did anybody give you advice on fire exists etc. Also was it a private booking or provision purely by the facility. Even though the law differs between the two, being as the staff deflated the castle they are responsible.
I would be asking many questions and expecting lots of answers.
This is completely unacceptable.
Please don't let this go, next time it could be much worse. Many centres refuse to use them now due to similar situations, i.e outdoor use and high winds. Kids falling off and injuries etc.

[morethanpotatoprints]

Sorry, fire exits.