:eyesb leed:
Fidgets "Business As Usual" after a girl got deep cuts by 4 metal screws
Fidgets are a new indoor soft play area at Turf City, which has been opened for about a week. The indoor play area is bound to be popular for parents eager to find new activities with their kids, especially when it is raining. Unfortunately, the place seems to be unsafe for kids and what's even worse - the owner is careless and irresponsible.
On March 18, 2008, at around 12:30pm, a 7-year-old child who was playing in the ball pit zone of Fidgets was hurt by a sharp cut in her inside right leg around the knee area. She sustained two wounds, one was 9cm long 4-5mm deep, and the cut went through her skin down to her muscle; the second wound was beneath the first 5cmx 4mm on the skins surface. The gash was so deep, it was obvious that a sharp metal object must have caused the injury.
A parent who is a first aider used her tissues and applied pressure to the wound whilst elevating the leg. Another parent who is a dental nurse requested for the first aid box. Surprising the first aid box lacked a, b, and c. When the parent asked the owner Sandy why the box was insufficiently stocked, the answer was there had been some accidents during their first week and they had yet to replenish it. The dental nurse stated for a children's establishment surely ensuring the box was sufficiently stocked should be a primary requirement.
Then the owner Sandy volunteered to take the child, her mother and sibling to the hospital. But it was disgusted to hear that Sandy the owner just dropped them off at Level One of the hospital, where we know the Emergency unit is on the basement. And She didn't leave her full name or a business card to the wounded child's mother when the mother asked.
A friend of the wounded child's mother, who was still at Fidgets after the accident, received a call from the mother. She asked for helping checking any sharp objects at the accident site. She said she was told by Sandy that Sandy's husband had arrived the accident site but found no sharp objects or other unusual things that could have caused the injuries. The mother couldn't believe what she was told. She actually needed to report to the doctor what exactly has caused the injury.
After the wounded child was sending to the Emergency Unit, the staff at Fidgets said they were unable to locate where the accident had occurred. A parent informed them that the child had indicated it was on the metal slide, which is part of the ball pit. It was the general view that there was probably a sharp metal toy that could have caused the horrific injury to the child's leg. Hence the staffs were planning to remove all of the balls to check. The entire play area was still open at this time, as was the ball pit area. The incident occurred during the week which was the Easter break for some International schools; hence the cafe area was full with not a seat spare. But once the accident occurred the premises were almost empty. It was the parents themselves that were deterring the children from entering the ball pit area, and the staff had not cordoned off the section.
The parent who had administered first aid went down the metal slide to check, and noticed 4 exposed metal screws on the left hand side of the slide, each screw protruding approximately 4mm. The padded area around the metal screws was covered in blood, which begs the question how the staff or the owners husband who had "inspected" the area were not able to notice this. The metal slide itself was perfectly safe as was the surrounding padding. However the netting on either side of the slide, preventing children from falling over the sides and containing the balls, was secured to the sides of the slide using these screws. Children being children had pushed against the netting making it come away at the section that the child sustained her injury. The parent showed the screws and blood to the staff, they cleaned the blood from the area. The parent suggested they cordon off the section to ensure that children do not enter, until the exposed metal screws are covered with padded plastic. The staff then placed a mat at the entrance of the ladder to prevent children from entering. The parent took some photos of the exposed metal screws. A number of parents came forward to the parent taking the pictures, and they stated they were happy to recount the events that had occurred and act as witnesses should any be required, details were exchanged. When the remaining parents, friends of the injured child left the premises the ball pit area was closed, the staff were removing the balls to ensure there were no metal objects in the pit.
The child underwent Emergency Surgery in the Emergency Room the whole afternoon till evening.
Another parent who witnessed the accident contacted her friend who was going to visit Fidgets with her children in the afternoon, and advised her against the visit. The mother who had planned the trip contacted Fidgets, she inquired as to whether they were still open as she had heard that an accident had occurred. The staff responded by stating that a child incurred a "graze", some netting had come loose which had been made "good", hence it was business as usual and all parts of the play area were open.
An open wound of 9cm through the muscle was described as a "graze" - if this were the case why would the child have required surgery? Why would the majority of parents remove their children and leave the premises?
It's known that the mother of the wounded child has sent a message to Sandy the owner after got back home from the Emergency Room on the day of the accident. She urged Sandy the owner to take responsibility for the injury and make sure the safety for children in Fidgets. However, Sandy the owner hasn't responsed a sigle word or take a single action.
Fidgets have been Business As Usual after the tragedy happened on 18 March, 2000.
a girl got deep cuts by 4 metal screws in Fidgets 
Re: a girl got deep cuts by 4 metal screws in Fidgets 
