Jim Barber, is the US spokesman for the National Association of Amusement Ride Safety Officials. Speaking about inflatable children’s rides he said:

“You see more injuries on inflatable’s than almost any other amusement ride you can think of — more than roller coasters.”

Are Bouncy Castles Really a Holiday Claim Risk?

Children in the UK and Overseas have been injured on inflatables. In Jacksonville, Florida, an inflatable bouncy castle blew into a nearby pond with a 5-year-old girl still inside it. The accident happened so suddenly that family members and neighbours only just saved the girl from drowning.

“All of a sudden the wind came from nowhere and it blew over in the lake with my daughter inside of it,” said the girl’s mother

Common Accidents on Bouncy Castles:

Children are frequently injured by:

• Bumping into other children
• Falling off the bouncy castle
• Tumbling from inflatable slides
• Becoming tangled or burnt by netting
• Landing badly during unsupervised ‘gymnastics’
• Bouncing on stones or glass if the castle isn’t correctly inflated

These minor injuries can lead to cuts and bruises, concussion, broken bones, sprain ligaments, scarring, and permanent eye damage.

Common Causes of Death and Serious Injury on Bouncy Castles:

Death on a Bouncy Castle is rare, but usually caused by:

• Fire
• ‘Blowing away’ on a loose castle – leading to drowning or suffocation
• Broken necks after bad falls
• Spinal injuries
• Brain injury following a knock to the head
• Suffocation in deflated plastic
• Strangulation in the netting

Children and adults can be injured on inflatable rides because of somebody else’s negligence. Many owners of inflatable attractions have been prosecuted over the years for their poor health and safety standards.

In the hostile oceans, genuine accidents do happen. But sometimes scuba diving and snorkelling holiday accidents occur because of negligence, or another persons bad judgement. Faulty Equipment, unqualified staff and poor health and safety standard can lead to divers being injured by diving companies. Injuries from swimming and diving accidents can lead to  lifelong disabilities, and reduce your quality of life forever.

24 hours later, passengers who showed no symptoms were free to leave. Those who were seriously ill with the bug were taken to the local hospital for treatment, with expenses paid by the Royal Caribbean.

Alexandre Raith, the spokesman for Royal Caribbean,  said that the cruise ship contained a wide variety of nationalities, but “the vast majority are Brazilian.”

Health and hygiene inspectors have been working round the clock to determine the cause of the outbreak. Doctors have collected blood and urine samples as well as inspecting food preparation areas to determine the source of the food poisoning outbreak. It will be several weeks before conclusive results are available.

Melissa Holland was a passenger on-board a cruise around the Caribbean last year when she was stricken with food poisoning. Today she expressed sympathy to the victims on board the quarantined ship.

‘It was horrible. The motion of the waves made me ill, and then I got food poisoning. It was supposed to be the trip of a life time; I just counted the days to get home.’

What are the symptoms of Norovirus food poisoning?

Nausea
Vomiting,
Diarrhoea
Stomach pain.
Headache
Fever

Most cases of Norovirus infection are short lived.  The virus develops between 24 and 48 hours after contaminated food or water is ingested and rarely lasts more than 60 hours.

The majority of individuals who contract a norovirus are fully recovered within a few days, and it is rare to suffer long term complications.

An infection in vulnerable people (especially elderly people and young infants) can be deadly – causing severe dehydration, malnutrition, and even death.

With food poisoning cases striking an alarming number of cruise ships – food hygienists are advising tourists to take extra care with hand washing and to be cautious about the food they eat. Cruise companies continue to battle the spread of bacteria as a matter of financial and medical urgency. As increasing numbers of food poisoning victims are choosing to make a holiday claim against negligent cruise companies, a norovirus can be costly in more ways than one.

A witness at the scene said: “It was terrifying. We thought they might die. I didn’t let my kids on any more rides after that, I was too frightened for their safety.”

Flamingo Land workers managed to rescue all of the Mumbo Jumbo riders to safety without anyone being injured. The passengers were said to be “massively relieved” at their narrow escape.

6 million people visit UK theme parks every year. British amusement parks are big business and form an important part of the local economy. In the credit crunch, with many people choosing to holiday in the UK, Amusement parks like Flamingo land are expecting to see a large number of visitors in 2010.

Theme Parks might be good for the economy, but do they cause holiday accidents?

Every year, many holiday accidents happen within theme parks. Although rollercoaster crashes are the accidents that hit the headlines, in reality, most injuries are caused by:

Tripping and falling in the park
Animal attacks in petting zoos
Water park accidents and drowning
Food Poisoning
‘Minor’ injuries on the rides – whip lash, cuts and bruises, medical complications.
Fingers trapped in ride mechanisms

People who need spectacles are at hidden risk. Every year, hundreds of people are injured through removing their spectacles to ride the rollercoaster, and having a serious fall on the way to the ride. If you have vision problems, then you should ask for assistance when being seated on the rollercoaster.

Macks solicitors are personal injury specialists who have successfully recovered compensation for  people injured through no fault of their own in theme parks.If you or someone close to you has been injured in any way whatsoever please contact one of our lawyers today for free,no obligation legal advice.

The project was the first ever study to examine ‘environmental hygiene’ outside of the kitchen cruise ships.  The project began after it was discovered that the ‘food poisoning outbreaks’ that break out in cruise shops are caused by ‘norovirus’ – rather than through eating spoiled food. Gastroenteritis (stomach upsets) is most easily transmitted from fecal bacteria, usually through touching an infected persons hand, or an object they’d recently touched. Yet despite industry clampdowns on hand washing of all staff members – norovirus outbreaks remain high. Scientists wondered if poor cleaning was to blame.
To discover the root cause of the food poisoning outbreak the scientists monitored several ‘hot spots’ in toilet cubicles.

Health care professionals monitored six standardized objects (toilet seat, flush handle, toilet stall inner handhold, stall inner door handle, restroom inner door handle, and baby changing table surfaces) and took regular samples of bacterial levels.

The study found that

Only 37 percent of the 273 randomly selected public toilets were cleaned daily.

Some objects were cleaned at least daily, but on 275 occasions no objects in a restroom were cleaned for at least 24 hours.

The toilet seat was the best-cleaned object.

The least cleaned object was the baby changing table.

Shockingly, 19 objects in 13 ships were not cleaned at all in the week long monitoring period.

The report, which appeared in the journal of Clinical Infectious Diseases, concluded that hand washing alone isn’t enough, and that a more thorough cleaning of toilets and restrooms is an often overlooked way to prevent food poisoning from spreading like wildfire throughout the entire cruise ship.

Photographs

A photograph can provide physical evidence of injuries, the site of the incident and what caused it to happen. Most people take cameras on holiday with them but a picture taken on a mobile phone will probably be sufficient.  Take as many photographs from various angles as necessary to provide evidence to support your holiday compensation claim. If you have any visible injuries take photographs of those as well.

Be careful not to put yourself in danger while you are taking the photographs.

Take the contact details of those people involved in a holiday accident as well as the details of anyone who witnessed it.

If the holiday accident or illness on holiday occurred in a hotel or apartment complex, or on a cruise ship, ask if any one else has been involved in a similar incident or has had a similar illness.

If it was a road traffic accident write down the make, model, colour and registration number of the other vehicle or motorcycle in case you are given incorrect information.

Report your holiday accident or illness on holiday to the holiday company representative and make sure it is entered into their accident report book.

If you are injured in a holiday accident or have an illness on holiday, such as food poisoning, you should seek medical attention. Cruise ships should have their own doctors and medical staff on board. If you are on a package holiday your holiday rep will be able to advise you or arrange medical treatment for you.

A holiday accident or illness on holiday can ruin a vacation that has been saved for and looked forward to for some time. It is only right therefore, that the victims of a holiday accident or illness on holiday, which was caused by the negligence or recklessness of another person or persons, are able to seek compensation

Macks Solicitors have acted for thousands of clients who have suffered an illness on holiday or have been injured in a holiday accident and their skill and experience has enabled them to recover hundreds of thousands of pounds in compensation on their behalf.

Macks Solicitors work on No Win No Fee terms and guarantee that clients keep 100% of their compensation without any deduction as all our fees and costs are recovered from the third party. If in the unlikely event a claim is not successful all costs are written off and therefore clients still have nothing to pay.

Food poisoning

Holiday companies have a responsibility to ensure that the food that is provided for consumers as part of a package holiday will not make them ill. They should carry out regular inspections of kitchens where food and drink is prepared to ensure they are clean, food is prepared, stored and served correctly and staff observe good standards of personal hygiene. If they fail to safeguard the health and safety of their customers then they may be held liable for any incidents of food poisoning on holiday as a result.

There are a number of things that you can do to prevent falling ill with food poisoning on holiday. These are:

If you are unfortunate enough to suffer food poisoning on holiday you should seek medical attention. As soon as you are able to you should report the incidence to the holiday representative at your hotel or on board your cruise ship. Photographic evidence of poor hygiene or food management is always helpful when making a claim for food poisoning on holiday but is not absolutely vital. Ask if anyone else on holiday has suffered a similar bout of illness.

As soon as you return home you should contact a specialist personal injury solicitor. Macks Solicitors have wide experience in handling holiday illness compensation claims including claims for food poisoning on holiday. A specialist solicitor at Macks will be happy to discuss making a food poisoning on holiday claim with you, giving you the benefit of their legal expertise free and without obligation.

If, despite taking all precautions, you had food poisoning on holiday you should call Macks Solicitors for free legal advice on making a claim. A specialist solicitor will listen to what you have to say and will give you advise based on experience of food poisoning on holiday claims.

The skilled solicitors at Macks have successfully recovered hundreds of thousands of pounds on behalf of clients who have had their holidays ruined by food poisoning on holiday. We act for clients on a No Win No Fee basis and guarantee clients have nothing to pay and they will keep 100% of the compensation they are awarded.

Holiday illness caused by viral outbreaks, such as norovirus, are a major problem on cruise ships and in hotels where there are large numbers of people inhabiting a relatively small area. The causes are contaminated food or water, contact with contaminated surfaces or objects and infected people and they are easily passed from person to person.

Legionnaires Disease is caused by exposure to legionella bacteria. Legionella grows in systems containing water which maintains a temperature high enough to encourage growth. Systems such as cooling towers, evaporative condensers, air conditioning systems, spa pools, and hot water systems are likely sources of contamination.

If you have suffered symptoms caused by a virus such as norovirus while on a cruise or on holiday in a hotel or apartments you can call Macks Solicitors for free legal advice on making a holiday compensation claim for your holiday illness.

Similarly, anyone who has been infected with Legionnaires disease may also have a case to claim for their holiday illness.

Macks Solicitors have experience of all types of holiday compensation claims such as food poisoning on holiday, norovirus and holiday accidents and will be happy to give you a free consultation with no obligation.

Macks skilled, specialist solicitors work hard to win the maximum compensation for clients and guarantee that they have nothing to pay and that they keep the full amount of compensation they are awarded.

Causes of food poisoning on holiday

Gastroenteritis or food poisoning describes symptoms that affect digestion. It can be caused by a number of micro-organisms or even toxins.

The most common are:

There is a small risk from oily fish contaminated by chemicals called polychlorinated biphenyls, although the level of toxins is thought to be very low. Oily fish include fresh tuna, mackerel, sardines and trout. The chemicals present a risk to unborn babies so pregnant women are advised not to eat too much fish. Some fish also contain high levels of mercury which can damage the nervous system of unborn babies. These fish include shark, swordfish and marlin.

Contamination of Food

Contamination can occur at any stage “from farm to fork” in the process of preparing food. However, since farms are strictly regulated concerning farming and food processing the most likely place for contamination to occur is during the storage or preparation.

Micro-organisms can enter our digestive systems in 2 ways; it can either be on the food, for example a person handling the food contaminates it, or it can be in the food and the food isn’t cooked properly.

The incubation period or the time it takes for symptoms to develop can take anywhere between 2 and 28 days. However, the symptoms often occur quite quickly after contamination, normally between 1 and 3 days.

In the majority of cases you will be able to treat yourself and will not need to seek medical attention. However you should seek medical attention if:

It is vital to ensure you do not become dehydrated as this will slow down your recovery and worsen your other symptoms. It is recommended that you drink 2litres or 3.5 pints of water every day as well as 200ml every time you pass a loose stool. You can also take oral re-hydration salts or mix 6 level teaspoons of sugar with 1 teaspoon of salt in 1 litre of water to help replace the minerals lost in vomiting and diarrhoea.

Eating smaller more frequent meals will help and will probably be more manageable than 3 large meals a day. Eat dry foods such as toast, crackers, rice, bananas and apples. You should try and avoid alcohol, cigarettes, caffeine and spicy foods as well. However, most important of all is to make sure you rest.

As mentioned earlier, in the majority of cases food poisoning on holiday can be prevented relatively easily. It is also simple to remember how to prevent it as it is commonly referred to as “the 4 Cs”:

Macks Solicitors is a specialist personal injury firm which has acted for thousands of clients who have suffered illness on holiday following food poisoning or bacterial infection. Our skilled solicitors have a great deal of experience in handling illness on holiday claims and have recovered hundreds of thousands of pounds in compensation for clients.

If you have suffered any illness on holiday and would like the benefit of a free consultation with an expert, specialist solicitor without any obligation please call Macks Solicitors on Freephone 0800 652 4321 or complete the online claim form.

Even if a pool looks clean if it is not properly managed it can provide harmful bacteria with an ideal environment in which to flourish.

There are four main illnesses from treated water

(such as swimming pools and spas):

Acute gastrointestinal illness (AGI) – This can be caused by bacteria; E.coli, or Shigella, viruses; Norovirus or Echovirus or parasites; Cryptosporidium or Giardia.

Dermal infections (such as rashes) and ear ache – Most bacterial rashes are caused by Pseudomonas aeruginosa.

Respiratory infections

Adverse reactions to chemical exposure

The majority of recreational waterborne illnesses can be linked to a lack of proper disinfectant, inadequate filtration and, or a lack of proper pool maintenance and cleaning practices.

Although it is commonly accepted that swimming pools can cause certain illnesses it can be difficult to directly link an outbreak with pool water as the evidence is largely circumstantial. Because some illnesses can take between 2-14 days before symptoms present themselves they are not readily associated with the swimming pool. It is also quite difficult to isolate microbes in the water to identify them.

Although you cannot eliminate every micro organism there are a number of ways you can reduce the risk of catching a RWI. Firstly pool owners have a responsibility to ensure the health and safety of their customers. This would include using adequate and effective disinfectant as well as having a proper, working filtration system. The pool should also ensure that staff are properly trained in maintaining the pool’s condition and are able to regularly test for high levels of harmful micro organisms.

Chlorine is the most widely used disinfectant as it can inactivate or control most pathogens and therefore using adequate disinfectant is one of the most important factors for preventing an outbreak. Proper filtration and chemically balanced water are also important factors. Disinfectants work by oxidising organic matter and inactivating pathogens. Filtration removes both organic and inorganic matter thereby eliminating materials in which pathogens can shelter from disinfectants. The pH of a pool must be maintained between 7.2 and 7.8 to allow the chlorine to work effectively.
High water temperatures, turbulent water and many swimmers causes rapid disinfectant depletion therefore they increase the risk of catching RWI s.

Swimmers can also help prevent the spread of these micro organisms by showering before entering the pool to help wash away any micro organisms. For your own health you should also shower after using the pool to help remove any pathogens you may have picked up from the pool. Children who are not toilet trained should either not use the pool or wear special, pool-safe nappies. If you have been ill, particularly if you suffered from diarrhoea, you should not use a pool for at least a week after symptoms have cleared up.

Symptoms vary depending on what you have been infected by but symptoms of RWIs often include:

Making a Claim

If regulations governing the hygiene and maintenance of swimming pools are not followed and, as a result, users become ill it may be possible for the victims to make a claim for compensation against those responsible.

The first step to making a successful claim for compensation is to contact Macks Solicitors for advice. Our skilled solicitors will be able to tell you if you have a claim and the likelihood of its success following a free, informal consultation.

If you then decide that you wish to pursue a personal injury claim and would like this firm to act for you, your solicitor will set things in motion straight away.

Macks Solicitors act on No Win No Fee terms and guarantee that clients will have nothing to pay. When the claim has been successfully concluded our clients always keep the whole of the compensation they have been awarded. Our fees are then recovered from the defendant party.

Common pathogens responsible for Swimming Pool Illness :

Macks Solicitors have a great deal of experience in handling holiday compensation claims for holiday accidents or illness on holiday in this country and abroad. Our specialist solicitors have successfully pursued claims for thousands of holiday makers over the years and are happy to give advice without any obligation to anyone who has suffered illness on holiday or a holiday accident.

If you have had an illness on holiday or a holiday accident in this country then compensation can be sought from those responsible in the same way as any other personal injury claim.

If you go on a package holiday, bought in the UK and are unfortunate enough to have a holiday accident or an illness on holiday, you have the advantage that you are able to seek compensation from one source, which is the UK tour operator.

The Package Holiday, Package Travel and package Tour Regulations 1992 lay down the tour operators responsibilities and their customers’ statutory rights. A claim for a holiday accident or illness on holiday will be made through the tour operator or their insurers and will include damages for any “knock on” effects the holiday accident or illness on holiday caused.

If you organised the holiday yourself, booking travel and accommodation etc. separately it may be slightly more difficult. The combined problems of having to deal with a foreign language, foreign rules and foreign regulations can be challenging and will almost certainly demand the expertise of a skilled and experienced solicitor. Nonetheless, if you suffered a holiday accident or illness on holiday as the result of someone else’s negligence, you should still be able to make a claim.

Having photographic evidence will greatly assist any claim. Even if taking photographs of what caused your holiday accident or illness didn’t occur to you at the time it may be worthwhile looking through your holiday snapshots to see if they picture anything that might assist your holiday compensation claim.

Reporting your holiday accident or illness on holiday to the tour operator’s representative and the staff where the incident occurred will also support a holiday compensation claim. Having reported it they should have ensured that it was entered into the accident book.

Taking details of any witnesses to your holiday accident as well as those of people injured, or who have narrowly escaped being injured, in a similar incident will also give weight to any holiday compensation claim.

If you suffered an illness on holiday, such as food poisoning, enquire if anyone else had also been ill and under what circumstances. This will help identify the source of the illness and may help to prevent further incidence.

Beware!

If you have had a holiday accident or have suffered from an illness on holiday your tour operator or the hotel etc may offer to provide a solicitor to act on your behalf or may even make an immediate offer of compensation.

Do not accept without first taking advice from an independent solicitor. Any offer that is made is likely to be considerably lower than the amount that you are legally and morally entitled to.

Macks Solicitors will be happy to give you free, impartial advice on making a holiday compensation claim without any obligation on your part. Our solicitors are trained personal injury lawyers who will discuss your claim and the options available to you. If you would then like us to handle your claim we will be happy to do so.

Macks Solicitors act for clients on a No Win No Fee basis. This guarantees that our clients have access to a quality legal service at no cost to them, whether they win or lose. Furthermore, Macks clients always receive 100% of the compensation they are awarded.