Kid Injured at Party - Proper Etiquette ......

This sounds like a matter between the family of the injured and the party hosts. If I'm reading this right, your kid was not injured. Let the family of the injured kid take the ball from here.

Yes, there could be some liability on the part of the party hosts, but again, this sounds like it's not your problem and you shouldn't get involved. If the parents of the injured kid want to pursue legal action, that's their business.

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OK, who showed the least amount of judgement here?

1. The company that rented/set it up the huge waterslide/slip n slid on the concrete

2. The host family that allowed the set up in an obviously risky place

3. All of the parents that LET their kids participate and didn't mention a thing prior to the accident

I wouldn't have let my eight year old play on such a thing on concrete. Everyone is concerned about a lack of phone call but nobody spoke up at the time? Where were all of the concerned parents when they first saw the set up??? Yes, they should check in with a phone call. Blood + water looks like a massacre. If the home owners are lucky the injured kid's parents are like me and will let my medical insurance take care of it. No need for a lawsuit with all of these contributing factors.

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I'm an insurance agent in AZ. They probably haven't called because they are petrafied they will be sued. If he has 11 stitches, its likely he will be permanently scarred and could likely win a law suit if filed. Not that I'm suggesting it. However, they put the kids at risk on their property and there were injuries, more than one. If they have "medical expense" on their homeowners policy, depending on the limits, a claim could be filed and paid from that, only for actual medical expenses. Med expense is suggested to help pay for small injuries like that in hope that you don't get sued for bigger payout (your liability limit). So ya, a call would have been nice, but I'm sure they are shakin' in their britches hopin' a law suit ain't comin' their way...

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First, I agree this is none of your business.

Second, why in the world did all of you who are "taken back" (infer - concerned and responsible) not do anything when you saw the waterslide on concrete in the first place? All of you are involved about the lack of a phone call, but couldn't involve yourself to stop a dangerous situation? Seems like you need to get your priorities straight!

Third, give them some time to call. Personally, I wouldn't think they even be out of the ER yet, after only 6 1/2 hours on a Saturday of a holiday weekend. (No, not national holiday, but many families have special Father's Day outings) Plus, they probably wanted to give the family a little space to take care of their child. And maybe they wanted to first contact their home owner's insurance and figure out exactly what they can offer the family of the injured child. Not to mention they probably wanted to gather their thoughts to figure out what to say to the other parents. A 24 hour window is perfectly acceptable.

I hope that now it's the next day, y'all have had time to simmer down.

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I would think they are cleanng up from the party, allowing the boy and the parents time to get through ER (which can be a long process) and settled in at home. I would expect them to call within 24 hours or so but not 6.

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Okay - so you got there, thought it was dangerous and said nothing just like everyone else. And then a kid got hurt... no shock there.
The fact that the host family hasn't called the injured family is none of your business. The fact that none of you other guests thought to tell the host family that they should move the slip and slide makes you all negligent.
LBC

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Your child was not hurt, correct?

So why are you so concerned about what's going on between the hurt child's parents and the hosts? Sounds like a MYOB issue.

The hosts are probably gearing up to be sued since so many people are sue happy and out to make money.

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The slip and slide instructions say not to use it on concrete and now that there is an injury, the parents that threw the party are probably wondering if they will get sued. Also, ER visits can take a long time, so they may be waiting to call until the next day. The parents of the injured kid do need to call them to get their homeowners/renters information to file a claim for their medical bills.

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Yes, the host family should have already called to find out about treatment, how the child is doing, and whether there is anything they can do to help.

Also, the host family should be notifying their homeowners' insurance to file an injury claim. Under their homeowners policy, they should have a certain amount of "med pay" coverage that will cover medical bills for someone injured at their home regardless of whether there was negligence/liability. So, as long as they have insurance, no matter what, their policy should pay some or all of the bills depending on how much med pay coverage they have and the amount of the bills. If they were negligent, which caused liability (a very good possibility here), their insurance will also cover that claim. So, either way, the party hosts need to be contacting their homeowners insurance, providing the other family with the homeowners' policy information and letting them know that a claim is being filed. That's the minimum that they should do.

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I see 2 things wrong here. A party host thinking it's a good idea to have a slip n slide on concrete, and party goers' parents that actually dropped off & left after seeing said slip n slide in the driveway. Poor decisions on both accounts. I am by no means paranoid, but that sight would've had us dropping the gift & leaving.

The parents need to call. They should be mortified & be offering some type of help, or something. They should be offering to help with any co-pays or medical bills.

Note - if it had been on an appropriate surface, like grass, & there was an accident, I would say, "kids being kids", but this was clearly neglectful from the beginning.

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I gotta say, as stupid as it is to put a slip and slide on concrete, it's even dumber leave your kid unattended when you see that. Yes, the family should call to check on the boy and apologize, but given their irresponsibility in the first place, I wouldn't expect a more responsible response.

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How strange for not only all the parents BUT ALSO your teen son to think this is crazy dangerous, yet no one asked for it to be removed & still let all the kids go on the slide.

I posted a question about a neighbor boy rough housing with my son who ended up with 9 stitches. Everyone told me that it was my kid so it's my bill and that I should have been in the same room as the kids playing. But here everyone is saying that the host should pay & put in a claim with their homeowners insurance. Maybe I'm missing something here.

Yes the parents should call but I wouldn't be upset just yet. They too need to have time to gather their thoughts. If they didn't call by end of day today then it would bother me. But then again I still haven't heard from my neighbors and it's been a few months.

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How are you commenting on your own question???

I thought you had to respond in SWH.

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ETA: Please confirm - is this is moon bounce with a slide or a SLIP-N-SLIDE??????? if it was a slip-n-slide on concrete - that was just stupid. And I can't believe that NO PARENT told the host parents that was an accident waiting to happen.

Original:

I'm sorry this happened. However, I don't see how it's ANY of your business if the parents/hosts of the party called to check on the child UNLESS it was your child that got hurt.

We have had water slide bouncey's at a party. There was a parent in charge of the kids coming down. ONE CHILD AT A TIME - PERIOD.

Over concrete? Yeah. It was most likely the most level place for the bounce to be. IF rules had been followed - one child at a time - then the likelihood of someone getting hurt would've been reduced by 90% or more.

As to the injured child? The host family should have homeowner's insurance and they, in my opinion, should pay for the hospital visit and co-pay for the injured child.

Other than that - if it is NOT your child - not your place to know if they called to check on the child, paid for anything or did anything. And talking with others about it is just gossip.

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This was an accident waiting to happen. I don't understand why it was set up on the concrete to being with. Regardless of anything else, if the space was too small on the grass, the rental company should never have agreed to put it on the concrete.

I would suspect they will hear from the family party soon. I think 6 1/2 hours is a little soon. No one knows how fast you get in and out of the ER. Can take forever.

The party family is to blame, the parents of this kid is to blame, everyone at that party is to blame. The set up was BAD to begin with. No parent should have allowed their kid to go on that on the concrete. . PERIOD

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Yes, the hosts should call the parents to check on the child. As stupid as it was to have that type of water play on the concrete, IF the parents, of the injured child saw it on the concrete I think they are as responsible as the hosts. As parents it is our job, no our DUTY to protect our kids from obvious unsafe actions. The should have either stayed and supervised the kid or told him the situation was not a safe one and he could not stay or if he stayed he was not to play on it. I hope he is ok!

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they had these things on concrete.
Deduce from there... their current actions.
And the host family... did not seem to be a part of the "rescuing" of the injured boy.

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Okay so stupid parents set up a water slide on the concrete, I guess to save their grass? Equally stupid parents dropped the kids off knowing they were going to use said dangerous water slide?

So the inevitable happened, kids were injured, stitches were had, now the stupid parents that had the party are on speed dial with their attorney not the parents of the kids?

I offer you the sad outcome of a litigious society! :(

Call them, they are probably worried to death but also worried they are going to get sued. The fact is it is hot coffee, sure we shouldn't sue for what should be obvious but we do. Stop worrying about social norms, trial bar got rid of them in these cases. :( Call them because clearly they are afraid to make the call.

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The host family hasn't called anyone? Is that your question? I'd call them. They were present when the accident occurred? Did they know the results of the ER visit? Perhaps they're waiting until tomorrow to see how he is after a night of sleep.

BTW I think that they absolutely are responsible for the accident and therefore for the cost of treatment. I suggest they may have not called because they don't know what to say. Or possibly aren't able to accept responsibility in a graceful way. Or are frightened.

We can guess but there is no way of knowing what's on their mind unless someone calls them.

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How well do you know the host family? Are they in defensive mode? I have to agree, a slip and slide on concrete is one of those "what were they thinking" moves.

Instead of waiting for them to call, maybe one of the boy's parents should call the host family. "We just thought you'd want to know" and see where the land lies. Maybe they are afraid of getting sued or having a claim filed against their homeowners insurance. (or maybe they don't have it?).

I can't begin to know. If an accident had happened at my house, at a party I was hosting, on my watch, I would have been the first person to contact the parents and would have kept in touch. How awful.

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Coming from potentially the parent's perspective, maybe they didn't call because they are unsure of how to proceed and need a little time to figure out what they will say or do. Either way, its not anyone else's business unless it was their child involved. It sounds like poor judgement was used with the placement of the slide etc. But I would give it a little time--they will call.

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They have most likely taken cover with the knowledge they are in deep do-do. No one in their right mind would let their kids do that. Each parent that drove up to that party should have said "Sorry, we can't stay long" and then leave after a few minutes if there was nothing else to do.

I would have been the bad guy for sure because I would have said no way in heck the kids were going to do that.

As for the kid that was hurt. Taking the child to the ER was good. I guess you didn't say but the parents met you guys there? What were their thoughts about all this?

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My first thought is....what on earth would make someone think a slip N slide on concrete is a good idea? Those things are dangerous enough as it is. If I was the host, I would be very uneasy about what could happen. They may be very well seeking legal advice. However, as a Mom I would have to reach out to the family of the injured boy. My attorney may advise me otherwise.

Next, I realize that at the time driving to the ER seemed like the best idea but I wonder if it would have been smarter to call the paramedics.

Let us know what happens.

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Well clearly they are idiots. I wouldn't expect too much from them. Personally I wouldn't have let my kids play on something that unsafe. I would have left the present and gone. Then made sure to not attend their death trap parties in the future... WTH

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Boy, what a mess, PM! The parents of the party surely SHOULD have called to ask after the child. Quite frankly, they will be lucky if they don't hear from the parents' lawyer demanding that their homeowners' insurance have to pay the hospital bill. People who can't even apologize for a child getting hurt due to negligence on their property are just asking for that from pissed off parents.

I would not be taking my kids over to this house for the next 100 years...

D.

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They may still be deciding what to do. When I was about that age, I was playing on our school sidewalk, slipped and cracked my head. My mom was called, I went to the doctor, etc. All was well later. Heads bleed a lot, sometimes for quite minor injuries. I think the hosts should give it a day and call, asking how he is and all that.

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The host family should have called and checked on the boy. It will also be expected by insurance that they cover the charges of the ER visit.

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For clarification... I saw a few posters say "slip and slide" and you said "waterslide/slip n slide". Did they have both a waterslide AND a slip n slide? The injuries you described sounded like they occurred at the bottom of one of those huge blow up slides that people rent, or spend $300 on a Walmart.

There is no way in H@!! I would have let my kids play on one of those on a concrete driveway. NO WAY. What were all those people thinking?! They are dangerous enough (because kids always push the limits of the rules) on grass or dirt. If they had an actual slip n slide on the driveway, that is equally stunning to me that any of the kids would do it. Seems like it would hurt a LOT. But, then again, when I was a kid and my folks weren't home, we would hose down the open carport and slide across that in our swimsuits. No slip n slide involved. Just bare SMOOTH concrete. But most driveways aren't "finished" smooth like that on the surface.

Wow. So now you know which parties your kids won't be allowed to go to when they are older ..... when they say, "it's okay, his parents are gonna be there..."

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wowza, I hate hanging around at parties where i don't know anyone but I also hate thinking about this happening while i'm not there.

Just wondering if the host hasn't called because they don't have the hurt child's phone number??? probably more just hiding out on their part but I know unless i had given my cell number to the host at the last party my son attended they woudn't have been able to contact me, our landline is unlisted and we hadn't had playdates before or anything plus no school class list iwth numbers either.

yikes glad the kid will be ok, hope everyone steps up and helps out.

just curious, did a host parent accompany kid to hospital or did you all just keep him comfy till his parents came and took him??

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We'll we have a bounce house water slide. That we bought at cost co. I love it. have parties every year and invite my kids freinds. But our slide has a weight limit of 200 pounds max. As the kids are getting older. They seem to slide out of it. I woudl never place this on concrete. really? It's hurt even on the grass if you fall out of it. One year a girl Bigger of course fell off the side. Went down slide wrong. I felt so horrible. These water slide aren't ment for older kids. it great for 2-8 years. any older there too heavy. with the weight they go down faster and slide over pool area of the slide. It is danagerous if people are in the pool and people slide down. That why I say 2 people at a time. But kids are just so excited. There should be a parent watching the kids at all times. Theyewre asking for trouble for placing it there. Yes it does tear up your grass. I placed it on our grass one day. it took over a year to have the grass grow back. But the family of the party should of checked on him. Are you sure they didnt call the parents?

Yes the parents of where the party was should have called. If I had gone to a party like that, I would have gone to the host immediately and given my opinion of the dangers of the set up.

I think most people with a heart would put their wallets and concerns aside and call or stop by to check on the child. If they have homeowners insurance there is medical payments coverage as well as liability that can be determined if a loss was filed. They may not know that this is available and the other family may not even ask...however I am sure that they would find it nice to just hear from them with concern.

In this day and age manners and etiquette are often not considered and it is sad...and if people think that they need to be concerned with any lawsuit worry, then don't host parties.

First off -thanks for all your answers - second off, i feel there's a little clarification needed .... the parents of the boy were at a memorial service - they left their kids with a responsible friend - the waterslide - if you will - was about 75 feet long by 8 feet wide - it weighed way too much to be moved. The mom of the party knew what happened - she was caught up in the party and yes, was concerned, but it was a little lacking - in my opinion - no idea where the dad was. Lucky for the boys family, they were in and out of E/R with 3 hours ... i wish i could show you pictures of the slide and the boys eye - the few friends that were involved are not trying to stir anything up we just CANT believe that they haven't checked on the boy ..... so we wondered if we were on target with our thoughts, or completely off .... seems to be that we are right on -- and does this family think for a minute to check their insurance ..... probably not!!

If you thought it was a bad idea maybe you could have suggested that it be moved so nobody gets hurt. Our neighbor boy came over into my yard and was teading our dog that was on his run. Our dog is super kind, but bit the boy. I immediately went to my neighbors and offered his vet records and checke don him. I followed up with the family the next day and a few times since then to be sure. I assume they just don't know what to do being such irresponsible hosts.....