Ride operators at theme park.

[itsgettingweird]

So went to a theme park today with ds and his friends.

It was a lovely day and very quiet compared to usual visits this time of year.

I don't do lots of rides - I'm happy to bag sit!

But use a few and tend to do my favourite 2-3 times.

The last time we went on this ride today the operator was checking the seat belts. This is usual. Then didn't even look or communicate with me but pushed the overhead barrier down so hard I couldn't get a proper breath in and it's left one of my nipples very sore (bruised?)

Ds and I were both waving to get the attention of attendants but they didn't notice and by the time I got to the end I was really dizzy from struggling to breathe and the pain in my breast (I'm not exactly huge!)

As I got off the ride I went more dizzy so sat down on the step. Ds explained to the man about the breathing and his advice?

"If you need first aid there's a centre at x point" (over 300m away from where I was sat unable to stand up.

I did retort if I was well enough to stand up I wouldn't need to walk to first aid.

I reported to park management team wandering around but he said he can't do anything. To which I said - well he could report it but I'll be emailing because both situations were unacceptable and I know it's not the norm as I visit a lot and use that ride a lot.

I guess not really AIBU because I'm not - but I guess am I being unreasonable to think that's bad training re sending people almost passed out alone to walk to first aid?

If you required immediate and emergency first aid did no one think to call 999?

If it wasn’t an emergency the staff member was probably in their right to point you in the right direction of the first aid/medical point.

What happened after that? Did you stay on the ground for long? Or did you manage to get up by yourself with no further treatment needed?

I stayed sat down for about 5 minutes. Much to the annoyance of the ride operator who clearly wanted me to stand up and walk to first aid!

I just bum shuffled up the stairs a bit so he could shut the doors and the ride could move on with the next people.

I think some of the dizziness came from the shock of how hard she pushed the head rest down. It was so forceful it shocked me and then I couldn't get a deep breath in to calm myself. Never in any visit to any theme park have I ever experienced that before.

Sounds like you had a bit of a panic attack, rather than a physical injury, you were able to walk though weren't you? So they weren't wrong?

Sounds like a panic attack?

Don't patronise me please.

I didn't have a panic attack.

I had a barrier shoved extremely hard into me that took me by surprise and then with it being so tight I couldn't actually get a breath in properly.

What the staff did was extremely poor practice. And then didn't even have the proper training to support someone who was dizzy and needed to sit.

I've used this theme park 4-5 times a year for the past 8 years. I know this feel way below their standards.

Nobody is patronising you, what you are describing sounds like a classic panic attack.

I think some of the dizziness came from the shock of how hard she pushed the head rest down.

I think this is it OP. You weren’t expecting the force of how hard she pushed the head rest down. It shocked you, not severely injured you.

If you were severely injured I am certain someone would have phoned 999 or the staff member would have called for medics to attend.

YABU to report this to complain. It would be different if you were left injured and no one phoned for an ambulance.

If you are still concerned about your breathing please phone 111 or rather 999.

Sounds like he pushed it down hard enough to wind you and it was too tight for you to get a full breath in. I’d definitely email about it. Is there an extra small setting it could have been on and not put back to normal setting?

"If you need first aid there's a centre at x point" (over 300m away from where I was sat unable to stand up.

Perhaps he just assumed your DS would go over and alert them?

I think people here are being as unhelpful as the ride staff. Panic attack or physical injury, if you came off the ride unable to breathe and were on the floor they should have called for assistance. I would definitely complain about the lack of care shown afterwards. Surely all staff should have basic first aid training.

The OP states she managed to “bum shuffle” across some stairs.

If she was genuinely unable to breathe (panic attack or heart attack) she would not be bum shuffling up some stairs and someone would have phoned 999.

I think your being really dramatic and your response to previous posters about patronising you when they simply made a suggestion based on your dramatic post confirms that for me I’m afraid. I agree it sounds like you panicked with the whole event of it not being what your used to and then just kept panicking which made you dizzy

The OP was being dramatic

It's a good job the staff were medically qualified so as able to conclusively come to this conclusion...because the next time they decide, by themselves, that a person claiming to have breathing difficulties isn't worthy of immediate help, it my be someone having a heart attack.

Op Yanbu. It doesn't matter if you were seriously injured or 'only' having a panic attack, the staff behaved appallingly. They should have something in place to call medical aid TO someone who's having difficulty breathing.

I would absolutely raise this officially, mentioning not only the careless way you were boarded leaving you in severe discomfort but also the lack of appropriate response after the ride. It's either a policy fail or a fail by the indidual but either was it needs addressing.

Another vote for ‘you are being dramatic’ here. And it’s not patronising to suggest that you had a panic attack. A safety bar doesn’t stop you from breathing even if it’s pushed down as far as it goes.

Lodge a complaint and see a GP about your sore breast.

I'm glad they are checking for ride safety and seatbelts! They must do it thousands of times a day, they haven't got time to gently chat with everyone to make sure their boobs are going to be okay, they are to a very tight safety schedule and the safety belt kept you safe

You say it got worse after seatbelt was removed, indicating anxiety and not the physical restraint was affecting breathing

I think this is it OP. You weren’t expecting the force of how hard she pushed the head rest down. It shocked you, not severely injured you.

Unfortunately it has injured me. I have a very bruised breast which I shall send (an appropriate!) picture of with my email.

It was so forceful my ds actually looked shocked and asked if I was ok.

At first I laughed and said I'd probably just shrink a cup size or 2. It became less funny when I realised it was so tight I couldn't get a breath in because I could expand my chest.

But I did breathe slowly and calmly. I didn't panic because I'm a first aided myself and know how to deal with situations like this .

Sad thing is it's out me off going again. There was absolutely no need for what she did.

^yeah you had a panic attack and first you said you didn’t know it’s bruised but now apparently heavily bruised?

Let’s not forget you went on a theme park ride… which reduces anxiety.

Drama llamas sometimes have a day out to a theme park =

The OP was being dramatic

OFFOD

I'm not dramatic. I went on a ride I've been on over 100 times before and left with a bruised breast.

That's not ok.

When my toddler feel over in a queue in a theme park a couple of months ago, they sat her down, called first aid user, and a nurse to check her over. She does have some health and mobility issues, but this was a minor trip, but they were exceptionally thorough.

I think first aid should have been called - expecting someone who falls ill after a ride and is dizzy to walk to first aid sounds ridiculous

how dramatic 🙄