Girl, 4, injured on snow slide Snow City: Waterproof pants not meant to be shield
A MISHAP on the 60m slope at Snow City in Jurong has left Claris Loh, 4, with a painful wound on her left buttock.
She was sliding down on something like an inner tube when her clothes got pulled out of place and her skin came into contact with the ice.
The skin on the little girl's buttock was scraped off, leaving an angry red wound.
She was wearing shorts, and over that, a pair of waterproof pants hired at Snow City.
Her mother, Madam Chelsia Leung, on another snow tube, was with her, arm in arm.
Madam Leung did not realise till they got to the bottom of the slope that her daughter was hurt.
Visitors can choose to snowboard, ski or sit on the snow tube. They can also hire extra clothing. The pants for Claris were $3.
Madam Leung, 30, a housewife, had taken her to Snow City on a recent Sunday with two other relatives.
She said: 'I noticed that my daughter's pants were a little long and loose even after I tightened the drawstrings.
'I went to a staff member, but she assured me it was safe. She said we just had to fold up the hems to shorten it.'
She said she was also told it was a size 6, the smallest available.
In its response to queries by The New Paper, Snow City confirmed the incident and expressed its 'deepest regret and sympathy' to MadamLeung and her family.
Its general manager, Mr Norazani Shiddin, said: 'The pants are available for customers who do not wish to get wet due to the melting snow.
'It is not meant to be a protective shield for preventing body parts from getting into contact with the snow surface when sliding down the slope.'
While a helmet and jacket were standard items provided to customers, the waterproof pants were optional.
Mr Norazani said: 'We are not sure how the pants can become loose since they are fitted with a fastener waist string that is designed to prevent them from slipping down.'
Claris met the minimum age requirement - 3 years and above - for the snow slide, provided she was accompanied by an adult.
Madam Leung also claimed there were no employees present to oversee children wearing their helmets or the distribution of snow tubes.
Mr Norazani said the selection of helmets (provided only to children) and snow tubes was left to the customers.
He said: 'It is our practice to allow customers to have their own free choice of tubing and helmets to suit their child.'
Staff members are deployed to supervise the sliding and landing area to ensure orderly behaviour.
Though Madam Leung admitted that 'accidents can happen', she said she was not satisfied with the medical attention provided by the staff.
She said she saw a staff member using facial cotton pads to apply antiseptic, and the cotton fibres started sticking to the wound.
She later took her daughter to Mount Alvernia Hospital.
Mr Norzani said that though staff members do help in providing first-aid, this is 'usually at the request of the customer'.
Staff members are usually advised to seek professional medical assistance in the event of serious accidents.
However, Mr Norzani noted Madam Leung's feedback and said: 'We will be sending employees to attend a first-aid course at St John Ambulance Brigade headquarters.'
Five others have had minor injuries, out of the 74,115 visitors to Snow City this year.
Madam Leung submitted her medical and transport bills totalling $210 to Snow City last week.
Snow City said it has submitted a claim to reimburse her, and is waiting to hear from its insurer.
source:
http://newpaper.asia1.com.sg/news/st...41694,00.html? 
SLIDES DOWN SNOW & SKIN COMES OFF 
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