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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Child at gym burnt hand on my hair straightener

238 replies

Geraderaus · 22/12/2016 20:25

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?

OP posts:
DailyFail1 · 23/12/2016 00:05

Queenliz - not everybody has silky straight/fine hair. I have traditional indian hair - big, thick, coarse, curly. I have to straighten everyday and if I want to look polished before a meeting then I must do it twice those days. I mean I could just rock up to work without, but I'd look terrible.

DancingDinosaur · 23/12/2016 00:06

MrsMoreton Grin

MontePulciana · 23/12/2016 00:08

My mum isn't an old dear. She's an old witch. And she doesn't know what straighteners are!

Mrsmorton · 23/12/2016 00:13

My mum is an old Cunt (trufact) and whilst she'd not know they were straighteners, she'd probably know they were hot.

But she'd have been so offensive about you DARING to exist in the same time and space as her, you'd have put them away and run for the hills anyway.

RhodaBorrocks · 23/12/2016 00:26

My mum is 65, anything but an old dear, and uses straighteners every day. Me? I can only use them to fuck my hair up further.

MontePulciana · 23/12/2016 00:27

I can honestly say I've not used them regularly since about 2002. I just prefer the wavy look.

BigChocFrenzy · 23/12/2016 00:38

I'm 60 and I will NOT be an old dear in 3 years time !
< stamps foot in a mature - but not old lady - manner >

I wouldn't recognise hair straighteners, but I wouldn't touch other people's belongings either.

However, toddlers haven't learned this yet

  • which is why they must be constantly supervised by a responsible adult in areas where other adults may be using hairdryers, scissors, sharp nail files, ... umpteen hazardous implements that the gym can't ban.

A toddler could scald herself badly if she'd grabbed your cup of coffee and spilled it over her face.
100% NOT your fault.

DailyFail1 · 23/12/2016 00:46

My mum's 60 and uses GHDs as do all her friends. Mil is 70 and doesn't use them but still recognises what they are, because she's offered straightening services at her hair salon. Ageism much? Hmm

jamdonut · 23/12/2016 00:52

I use hem 2 minutes before going out the door.

By school morning break, you would have no idea that I'd used them! Grin

QueenLizIII · 23/12/2016 01:03

Queenliz - not everybody has silky straight/fine hair. I have traditional indian hair - big, thick, coarse, curly.

I dont have straight hair either. GHDs would fry my hair. I love my natural curls and waves. As a professional woman I have never been told or been of the opinion that I need straight hair to look polished.

AwaywiththePixies27 · 23/12/2016 05:37

And someone else thinks there will be cctv coverage in the changing rooms

Yes. Because of how our leisure centre with gym is set out. One room for the pool changing one room for the gym changing etc. Then a room complete with mirrors and hairdryers and straighteners etc for anyone to use. That room has cctv as there's not likely to be people walking about in a state of undress.

I used to work in a nightclub many years moons ago, when one too many police incidents led to the boss needing to put cameras as close to the toilets as he could (incidents kept happening in the toilets). The camera was allowed to point down where people were queuing, but not directly into the toilet cubicles themselves, so it is possible they might be some cctv near where the OP was.

I don't think the OP was responsible for this accident at all, those saying she should have took a bit more care to keep them out toddlers way, do you all start moving your hot drinks out of the way in coffee shops when you see a toddler make a break for freedom?

BestIsWest · 23/12/2016 06:11

Just reported the comment about old dears. What ageist shit. Come on.

SoupDragon · 23/12/2016 06:24

I think this thread is bullshit. No sign of the op.

People do have lives outside of Mumsnet, you know.

She did have time to join MN though.

AwaywiththePixies27 · 23/12/2016 06:25

Indeed Best my Grandma is 81 next month and is more sprightly than me on my bad days! Grin There's nothing old dear about her either.

allegretto · 23/12/2016 06:29

My daughter was slightly burnt when she grabbed straighteners at the pool - but they had been left unattended! I don't think you did anything wrong OP.

eternalopt · 23/12/2016 06:35

I don't think anyone did anything wrong. It was an accident. As the OP said, the child lunged at them suddenly. Even if the mother was watching, these things can happen so quickly that if there was nowhere to pin the child down, it could still happen. Is a bit weird though to have straightened heating up as it takes no time and sounds like they were on for a while, but could still happen even if you only put them down to grab a brush or something. Play pens in changing rooms are the way forward.

Sirzy · 23/12/2016 06:38

But eternal. Surely when the mum realised that her toddler was going to not sit still (also known as being a toddler) she should have left her hair and got him away from the situation.

Even taking away the accident she was unreasonable for allowing her child to play with other people's stuff and get in their way.

PickledCauliflower · 23/12/2016 06:43

Children are allowed in gyms now?
I've not been to one for years, but I remember them being adults places (for obvious health and safety reasons).
If they were using the changing room for the pool it is the parents responsibility to supervise their child. The kid was grabbing at your belongings - not like you left your hot straighteners on the floor for someone to stand on.

AwaywiththePixies27 · 23/12/2016 06:44

The child didn't just lunge at them suddenly though. She'd already been admonished by her Mother for going near them beforehand.

vjg13 · 23/12/2016 06:57

I think any recourse will be taken against the gym and they may face some liability for allowing non PAT tested appliances in a public place. Although it wasn't the OP's fault, it may not be an official rule about using your own appliances just what generally happens.

I would expect loads of new signs up in the changing area now about this and supervising children properly.

BitOutOfPractice · 23/12/2016 06:59

I think it's very interesting that the op expresses no sympathy or concern for the child at all. Not even a "poor thing". Very odd. Even describing it as "alarming" rather than upsetting or horrible.

It may be that she's worried that by expressing sympathy that she's accepting liability. It may be a reverse.

Mrsmorton · 23/12/2016 07:50

vjg I don't think PAT inspection is appropriate here. It's not a legal obligation in any case and there's no requirement for the gym to enforce the use of inspected equipment. That's one of those annoying myths that is made "law" by people trying to make money.

FaithFromTheRealmsOfGlory · 23/12/2016 07:50

Definitely odd Bit.

HaPPy8 · 23/12/2016 09:21

I don't understand the attitude that it is not the OPs responsibility at all. Of course it is! Do kids of 'negligent' parents not deserve any care from anyone? If a 2 year old ran in front of your car would you not take steps to avoid them regardless of if the parent let them run out? Of course you would! If i was using straighteners around a child small enough to not be able to understand fully or protect themselves i would be really cautious regardless of the parent. If that 2 year old had tried to touch them before and the mother wasn't being helpful i would turn them off and protect the child myself! FGS its a small child, someone has to look out for it! The attitude 'oh well its the mothers fault' does nothing to help the poor injured 2 year old.

NathanBarleyrocks · 23/12/2016 09:27

100% the mother's fault. She obviously isn't very bright - screaming at you in a language that you don't understand! She'll be too worried to go to the authorities...for obvious reasons.

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