While the 61e edition of the March Fair had barely started, the unthinkable happened. Around 6 p.m. this Friday, a ride accident seriously injured several people – two adults and a 9-year-old girl. Dr. Gérald Kierzek, medical director of True Medical, tells us the right actions to adopt when an incident of this type occurs.
“It started to be panic”
According to Est Eclair, this accident occurred around 6 p.m., on the attraction.Starflyer” – a ride with many “flying” chairs attached by cables. However, it was precisely one of its swings that caused the problem: after hitting an element of decor, it unbalanced other seats.
“We heard a noise from the ride. When the structure came down, it picked up speed. The baskets hit the rides next to it. There started to be panic, people started running away because it was impressive”confided a witness to the microphone of France 3 Champagne-Ardenne.
In total, three people were injured during this incident: a 42-year-old mother, her 9-year-old daughter, and a 19-year-old young woman. And although their vital prognosis is fortunately not in jeopardy, the little girl still suffers from head trauma and broken teeth. The mother, for her part, presents “a shock to the knee and foot“, still according to the local newspaper.
“I experienced the longest 30 seconds of my life”,
breathes the father, still traumatized. He also recognizes “that it was not just an incident, but an accident that could have been even more serious.”
Since this tragedy, the attraction has been closed to all visitors and an investigation is underway to determine the exact causes of the accident.
According to the official press release from the March Fair, the said ride in question, checked just before it started, would also be “compliant with current safety standards“. An argument which is not to the taste of all Internet users, who say they are “shocked” and invite the showmen to “regain visitors’ trust“.
The right actions to adopt
While it is impossible to prevent such malfunctions within a funfair, a few good actions can limit damage on board and around the rides.
During the incident
Here, every second counts. “Keep calm to avoid panic, protect yourself by holding firmly on the safety devices (bars, harness) and adopt a stable position (knees bent, back straight). If possible, verbally alert those in charge (yell “Stop!” or “Problem!”) without letting go; the rides have an emergency stop button for the operator. Do not try to force an exit or a risky movement, which would aggravate the injuries”, advises the emergency doctor.
Once on land
Once you have placed your foot on the ground, act with composure and caution: “prioritize your own safety: calmly move away from the risk zone (ride movements, crowds) so as not to become an additional victim. Immediately alert emergency services (18 or 112) or an on-site manager (operator, fairground security), specifying the number of injured, visible symptoms and your exact location. Then help others if this does not put you in danger: check their condition (level of consciousness/breathing), then place unconscious (but breathing) people in a side safety position, compress the wounds in case of bleeding…”,
concludes Dr Gérald Kierzek.