Yesterday, H had the day off and we decided to take Ruby swimming for the first time. They gave us the disabled changing room so that we could all get changed together, which is what they do for families (I phoned to check beforehand). There was a large bench sort of thing already pulled down in there so we sat on there to get changed etc and went swimming which Ruby really liked. When we were getting changed again after we got Ruby dressed we strapped her in her car seat and put her on the bench. Then me and H got dressed and I went out to the loo and H was right next to her.
I came back in to Ruby screaming and screaming. The bench had collasped and her car seat had fallen forward basically throwing her head first onto the hard floor and landing upside down! H had already got her out of the seat and was cuddling her when I got back so I didn't see how it landed but that is how he said it fell. We took her to A&E and they did xrays on her head and said she is ok but to keep an eye on her and look out for signs etc. Overnight she seemed fine. Today she’s a little clingy and tearful but is generally happy playing.
I have no idea how she wasn't more badly injured. Her head was about 3ft above the ground and she basically head butted the hard floor and the car seat was on top of her. Imagine if we did the same from say 6ft. The bar wasn't in the carry position which probably would have stopped her head hitting the ground. She's been so brave :-(
H called someone in to see the bench etc whilst I was calming her down and once H had played around with it he said that the legs didn't lock properly into position, they could slowly edge out of position and there was no locking mechanism. There were no instructions saying this was a folding bench or how to put it down or up (it was already in position when we used it).
I’ve been beating myself up thinking we shouldn’t have put her car seat on the bench as I know really they shouldn’t be above ground but I’ve been thinking about it and she would have still hurt herself if she was sat on the bench with us in front of her or laid down being changed. Similarly if a disabled person had been using the bench it would have collapse and they would have hit the ground.
Lou Lou Belle Designs - handcrafted jewellery and hair accessories
www.louloubelle.co.uk lisa@louloubelle.co.uk Facebook