Despite following safety procedures to the letter and taking all of the necessary safety precautions to protect your inflatable business, someday something will go wrong. It may be a mistake on your part, or something out of your control, like a child not following the rules while on the equipment. Either way you need to be prepared and know how to handle an accident.
If and when an accident does occur you will need to complete an incident report form. Incident forms are a critical way to protect yourself and your business from potential lawsuits down the road. Even if the accident seems minor, it is important to document it and complete an incident form regardless. Many insurers have their own incident form that you can use, complete with all of the necessary information you will need to collect.
To view a sample incident form visit http://www3.cutr.usf.edu/bussafety
The form should be completed immediately after an accident and should have as many details as possible. This way the truth will not be disputed in the chance that the incident may go to court. Make sure the incident report is signed and dated by witnesses to the accident, and have them also include their phone number in case you need to contact them in the future.
In the event of an accident, it is important to remain calm. This will keep the crowd calm as well. Immediately assist all un-injured people from the inflatable. Once you have deduced that an injured guest needs medical assistance, get help as quickly as possible. The more time you spend standing around doing nothing the more negligent and liable you will look. Do not ever remove an injured person yourself. This can open you up to all sorts of post-injury liability. Contact first-aid personnel or other services as required.
Always show up to an event with a first-aid kit so that you will be equipped to handle minor injuries as necessary. A well-stocked first-aid kit should include the following basic supplies:
- Sterile gauze pads
- Adhesive tape
- Adhesive bandages
- Antiseptic wipes
- Antibiotic ointment
- Antiseptic solution (hydrogen peroxide)
- Hydrocortisone cream
- Acetaminophen or ibuprofen
- Tweezers
- Scissors
- Safety pins
- Disposable instant cold packs
- Alcohol wipes
- Plastic non-latex gloves
- Blanket
- Mouthpiece for administering CPR
Your staff should always be well versed in first-aid skills, with periodic training updates, and current safety certifications.
Maintain a record of all injuries. Each state has a statute of limitations for how long this information must be kept. Because the injured party may wait a year or longer to file the lawsuit you will need to maintain this backup information.
Taking the necessary safety precautions will reduce the number of accidents. But training yourself and your staff on what to do during a medical emergency will protect yourself and your company.