MAKKAH: Recreation centers are the first places people think of for the entertainment of their children during Eid. But on some occasions these centers become the sources of grief and sorrow for families as a result of accidents involving children.
“Recreation centers are the best places to make children happy, but sometimes the happiness could be turned to a catastrophe, which is often caused by the negligence of the parents themselves,” Ammar Madhat told Arab News. “Many parents do not select the games suitable for their children’s age and leave the matter to maids. I still remember a case that happened about five years ago when a maid put a small girl in an electric car. She was not able to drive and other cars were hitting her. Finally, her head hit on the steering wheel and blood started flowing from her mouth. The girl’s father rebuked the maid for her negligence, but the mistake was actually his.”
Mustafa Sairafi spoke about another reason for most accidents at recreation centers. He said the owners do not pay much attention to maintaining equipment at these facilities. He said he had seen an electric car catching fire while a small girl was inside.
“The Civil Defense should keep a close watch on these recreational centers to ensure the safety of children,” Sairafi said.
Hassan Layati called the attention of the owners of recreational centers another important factor to ensure the safety and security of their clients. He says the centers should put signboards stating age limits of children using various games.
“They should ban children from using certain games that are dangerous to them,” Layati told Arab News. “Some games are dangerous even for grown-ups, such as those having heart diseases and high blood pressure.”
He said parents should have full control of their children and should not allow them to play any game they like. “They should alert children to the dangers posed by certain games,” he added.
On Tuesday, the day of Eid Al-Fitr, two Pakistani women were injured when they fell from rides in a local amusement park in Madinah. The women were taken to a private hospital.
“One has left hospital after receiving first aid while the other, whose hand was fractured, is still receiving treatment,” a relative told Arab News. The women fell unconscious during the high-speed ride, the relative said, adding that owners should install systems that allow people to call for help when in trouble.
Ahmed Al-Sabban, director of Nouras Recreation Center in Makkah, said he had given instructions to his staff to carry out regular maintenance of the various rides in the center.
“We also take seriously comments and observations of customers and take necessary action to improve services,” he told Arab News. “We always provide all means of security and safety inside our center. A first-aid expert has been appointed at our center. We also coordinate with health centers and hospitals to deal with emergencies.”
Dr. Muhammad Madani of Al-Tunisi Hospital said most injury cases coming from fun centers are caused by either falling from high places or electric shock.
“Some children are brought to hospital with head and backbone injuries,” he said.
Col. Jameel Arbaeen, director of Civil Defense, cautioned parents about the dangers posed by high-tech recreational facilities. He said his officers conduct regular inspections of the centers and make observations, especially before special occasions such as Eid.
