Kids clubs at holiday hotels abroad are supposed to provide a safe, fun environment for your children.  But serious issues are constantly being raised by parents who feel that sub-standard facilities and poor equipment can lead to injuries.  Most family friendly hotels boast well-run kids clubs and first class children´s facilities, but for there are always exceptions.  Always check facilities are up to standard and that strict safety procedures are followed before placing your children in hotel kids clubs.

Health and safety standards have improved greatly over the past five years in most holiday hotels, but all too often boxes are ticked, and paperwork is submitted without the proper authorities thoroughly checking the safety of play equipment and the experience of staff who are employed to look after the youngsters. If your child is injured at the kids club of your holiday hotel, and the accident was not their fault, you may be able to claim compensation against the tour operator or hotel.  Write down all the details of the accident/injury and take photos where possible.  Inform your holiday rep and fill in a holiday complaint form.  When you return to the UK contact a personal injury solicitor who specialises in holiday accident compensation claims.  A no win no fee solicitor won´t cost you a penny and will give you expert advice about your holiday accident claim.

Before booking a holiday hotel with a kids club, check brochures and their descriptions of facilities carefully.  Safe standards are not always easy to gauge, and one of the best ways to check that facilities are of a good standard is to make sure they meet with the principles of the British Standard BS8409:2002.  Parents can check with the tour operator if the hotel kids club meets these standards, which set out minimum standards in soft play areas for kids.  These principles include:

1. If the play area leads to a restaurant/bar, a slow exit should be provided.

2. Doorways should have vision panels and door closers where appropriate and doorways should not open into the play areas.  Measures should be taken to avoid finger and foot entrapment on door.  Handles should be placed at a fixed height.

3. A clear area without markings should be situated between the playing and non-playing areas.  All tripping hazards should be removed/avoided.

4. Staff should be instructed to ensure carers stay outside the indoor play area, but adjacent with it if they wish to supervise their child.

5. Each play area should be individually risk-assessed to ensure defined staffing levels are maintained at all times.

6. Staff training and maintenance of training records should be kept.

7. Maximum numbers of children in the kids club at any one time should be maintained so that overcrowding does not occur.

8. Notices should be clearly visible informing carers that food or drink cannot be taken inside the play area, and a strict no glass or smoking policy should be adhered to in any social area outside the play area.  Notices should also inform carers and children that jewellery, pinned badges, watches, money and other personal possessions should not be taken into the play area.  Staff should make sure this is enforced at all times.

9. Notices should request the removal of shoes and belts with large buckles, plus neckties and clothing with neck cords.  Staff should make sure these rules are enforced.

10. Carers should encourage children to use the toilet before using the play equipment.

11. Clear signs should communicate the main rules of play in the kids club.

12. Where appropriate, rules of play signs should be displayed in other languages.

13. Rules about supervision should be made clear in all publicity material, and should be reinforced by staff to the carers on reception of the kids club.

14. Regular and systematic inspection routine is central to providing a safe play area.

15. Any inspection or maintenance carried out should be well documented.

16. Procedures for coping with any accidents should already be established.

17. A daily visual inspection should include checking fire doors are free from obstruction.

You need to know your children are safe on holiday in the same way you would ensure the same standards exist in the UK.  If your child is unfortunate enough to suffer a holiday accident or injury abroad, you can claim compensation as soon as you return to the UK.  By contacting a no win no fee personal injury solicitor who specialises in holiday illness compensation claims, you will receive free professional advice and guidance.

Farnworth Rose Personal Injury Solicitors can help

You receive 100% of the compensation.
You receive £100.00 when we take your claim.
No win, no fee and no risk to you

If you think you have a claim for illness, accidents or injury which happened abroad, we can help you claim compensation.  Holiday claims are complex and you need to contact Anne Thomson at Farnworth Rose Personal Injury Solicitors if you think you have a claim.  Anne has worked for over 20 years in the field of holiday compensation claims, and has a sound knowledge of travel law and how it works.  Many tour operators offer clients much less money than they deserve after suffering an illness, injury or accident on holiday.  Contact Anne and her team before you accept any payment – we may well be able to get you more!  For more information or to make a claim, call  on 080001 54321 or fill in the online claim form.

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