Slipped in hot tub area!

[travelingfool]

My family and I were on the Liberty sailing 1/15/06. We have cruised before and have always taken precautions when walking around the pool and hot tub areas. After getting my son out of the hot tub we started walking down the stairs, him holding the rail on the left side and me on the right. Next thing I know I am on my back bleeding from my elbow and my 6 year old over me asking me if I was ok. Embarrassed, I picked my self up and with my son in tow walked back to the room. The wife made me go to the infirmary to get checked out. 2 stiches and $100.00 later I am back in my room. Should I write Carnival about this hazard and hope they will fix it or should I just let it die? I am not out to sue anyone, but I saw several people slip in the same area I did and they have nothing on the tile to give you traction. I am sure this happens quite often. Am I wasting my time? I did have cruise insurance. First time I had purchased it. Just a side note we still had a great time on the cruise, bad weather and all. Ryan.

[Barkingowl]

Sorry to hear about your misfortune. I always have one hand for me & one for the ship.

[taraandsean]

in the immediate area next to the hot tub or pools especialy on the stair you would think they could put some sort of grip tape like used on skate boards so you dont loose your footing.

[crazidude1400]

I call that a sue carnival thing.

[mfs2k]

I slipped on black ice on a manhattan street last year and broke my foot and needed surgery.

 

I didnt sue anyone. I slipped.

 

You were walking on a slippery, wet area. Your attention was probably focused on your son holding your hand. Take responsibility for your fall. It doesn't sound like Carnival was negligent. Be grateful all you needed was stitches.

 

Maybe traction tape is a good idea, but perhaps there is a reason they dont use it... I cant answer that. I do agree that I too have seen people slip in the pool areas... It is slippery.(hence the word)

 

<just my opinion - you asked>

[jckvpa0]

I'm not sure that they will do anything. I have only been on two cruises on two different cruiselines & it seemed to be the same. I think people just have to be extra careful when water is involved.

 

Glad you are ok & had a great cruise!

[Folgy]

Good for you for not suing. Only MORONS that are greedy stinking parasites would sue.

 

I think the least the ship could do is fix your Boo Boo on your elbow at no charge.

[travelingfool]

Didn't say I was suing. Just asked if I was wasting my time writing Carnival about this slippery area. I am not that type of person. I am not asking carnival for anything. Just don't want to see more people fall down on slippery tile.

[wrp96]

I definitely think it is a good idea to write and let them know. That's the thing with some problems - they don't know they are there and need to be fixed unless somebody tells them about it.

[starketcher]

We were on the Zenith (or might've been Century) a few years ago. It was a sea day and we were off the FL coast heading back to Charleston SC. Our room was just down from the infirmary. We heard a big comotion and people running. This was right before lunch. While we were in the dining room and the caption came on and said he was slowing the ship and soon the US Coast Guard would be there and we woiuld completely stop. The Coast Guard would be airlifting a passenger. (The airlift was quite impressive.)

 

We found out that it was a 35 y/o female who'd slipped at the hot tub and hit her head. So it happens on other ships and other lines.

[julia]

To the OP:

 

There is NO excuse for slippery areas around a hot tub or pool. Resorts and hotels take MANY precautions to ensure that these areas have extra traction in the form of wood decking, pebblecrete, rubber stripping, etc. Cruise ships should be NO exception and they should make every effort to mitigate slippery tiling thoughout the ship. It is an unnecessary hazard that doesn't need to exist!

 

I am sorry about your accident and thankful that it wasn't more serious. PLEASE take the time to write to Carnival and be forceful with the wording. The next person who slips might not escape with just a few stitches!

[CTMak]

To the OP:

 

There is NO excuse for slippery areas around a hot tub or pool. Resorts and hotels take MANY precautions to ensure that these areas have extra traction in the form of wood decking, pebblecrete, rubber stripping, etc. Cruise ships should be NO exception and they should make every effort to mitigate slippery tiling thoughout the ship. It is an unnecessary hazard that doesn't need to exist!

 

Julia:

 

No offense but water on any surface (except perhaps sand on a beach) is slippery. If one takes what you are really saying to the extreme then maybe the solution is to thether everyone in a harness as they come out of the pool/hottub until they are safe. Or better yet, eliminate the pool/hotub altogether -- then no problem.

 

Obviously I am exagerating to make a point. But if you cut yourself cutting your steak do you blame the restaurant because the knife was sharp?

 

Stuff happens. It's called life.

 

CTMak

[Iamthesea]

My father slipped on a Celebrity ship. Cut his elbow and leg, then picked himself up and went on. Refused to see the ER.

 

Yes, something needs to be done and I don't know why the cruise lines will not fix these slippery areas.

 

I would say that a very nice letter alerting Carnival of your problem would be nice. Be sure and let them know that you are not asking for anything...just informing of a potential serious accident. Don't expect an answer in return, though.

[caprcorn28]

There is NO excuse for slippery areas around a hot tub or pool. Resorts and hotels take MANY precautions to ensure that these areas have extra traction in the form of wood decking, pebblecrete, rubber stripping, etc. Cruise ships should be NO exception and they should make every effort to mitigate slippery tiling thoughout the ship. It is an unnecessary hazard that doesn't need to exist!

 

I respectfully disagree that resorts and hotels don't have any slippery areas near pools and hot tubs. Sure, everyone makes every effort to make those kind of areas safe, but there is nothing to ensure it...People slip. Hence all the signs around hotel and public pools about No Running, Caution slippery, etc...I have slipped, and I know that I am not the only one. (Heck, wood decking can be slippery getting out of your own hot tub on your own deck...)

 

I too am glad that the OP didn't get hurt any more serious than he did - but it was an unfortunate accident...plus you are on a moving vessel. They remind you all the time to make sure to hold on to railings etc. I would say, be happy that it was you instead of your child.

 

OP - sure, if it will ease your mind to write Carnival and advise them about putting down the traction strips or whatever....So it may help prevent someone else from falling...Go for it. But I definitely don't think you'll get anything out of them...

 

Glad that you had a good trip otherwise!!

[GoinCruisin]

I have included that in every review I have sent to Carnival... moreso to let them know that the children are running everywhere which compounds the problem. I realize that around a pool, the area will be slippery... I have slipped at a resort, a cruise ship, a community pool... it happens. But they really need to enforce the running around there, because people can get seriously hurt... putting a sign out for the people that might not find it obvious that areas that are wet are slippery might help... then again, you should always take precaution around wet areas. But they are slippery and even with the most careful footing, I have seen people fall. I wish something could be done, but I don't think it is something anyone could sue over, wood flooring + water= slick conditions.

 

Sorry you were hurt, and it wouldn't hurt to include something in the letter to them... good luck!~

[waterrats]

Here we go again. Lets just all agree that water makes surfaces slippery. If you don't know this, then buy a clue. This is not intended at the OP, just everyone that thinks they should sue because there is water around the pools (duh) and end up slipping because they are careless.

 

Everyone that drives a car knows this otherwise we wouldn't slow down slightly when the roads are wet. And no, its not just the oil on the roads but also the water.

 

Glad to see your no sueing. You are also probably wasting your time with writing. They know it happened because you went to the infirmary.

 

Hey, my wife slipped this year at the pool while carrying pizza. I laughed being the good husband I am. I think her pride was hurt more than anything else. She would never think about sueing for something like that.

[PaulMedik]

Smooth surfaces, though perhaps more conducive to causing a fall, are much better to fall on than abrasive 'non slip' surfaces; when you fall and hit something, the friction between your skin and the surface is what causes the actual damage to the skin; increase the friction and you'll increase the skin damage. Contusion damage: the crushing of deep tissue, is equal regardless of the surface.

 

The best 'non skid' surface would likely become just as smooth as any smooth surface when water surface tension between your feet or shoe soles and the surface is created by water volume or any lubricants such as suntan oil or lotion. In other words; you're gonna fall if it's wet and oily even if you can rub it and feel a 'non slip' surface.

 

My oldest son triped on a loose stairwell carpet nailer and cut his knee on his way to camp carnival last summer. The counselors called me and sent him back to our cabin where I applied bacitracin, steri strips and a band aid and sent him on his way. I noticed the loose nailer later that week and never gave it another thought until now. Now that I think about it, I plan to make sure I bring a few more steri strips with me on our next cruise and maybe a few sutures as well.

 

But, back to your question, I think you should let it go. People are going to fall in areas that are wet regardless of the surface texture. All that Carnival could do would be the posting of additional signs and I don't think you want them replying; 'OK, here's your sign.' ;)

[zydecocruiser]

If there is a real hazard - write Carnival.

 

Slippery when wet does remind me of someone or two, but never mind.

 

If something is wrong that is reasonable for them address with something other than yet another warning sign that everyone will ignore - and people like me might trip over - I would write.

[pppiglet]

Does anyone wear those watershoes into the pool area? Maybe that would help. I also wouldn't sue if it happened to me.

[Folgy]

If there is a real hazard - write Carnival.

 

Slippery when wet does remind me of someone or two, but never mind.

 

If something is wrong that is reasonable for them address with something other than yet another warning sign that everyone will ignore - and people like me might trip over - I would write.

 

 

There are oodles of rules that get broken ie; Do not save seats in the Theater/unescorted kids in the Hotub/kids in the Solarium pool during adult hours/babies with swimmies full of feces in the main pool.......the list is long and remains uncorrected or inforced no matter how many letters you write. I am afraid the letters just fall on deaf ears.

 

Zydecocruiser, I agree with the content of your post...just not the futility of writing them.

[VentureMan_2000]

I think it is a very poor idea to contact Carnival. You came from a spa... soaking wet... was not watching what you were doing... and slipped due to the area being wet. Do you blame your shoe/slipper manufacturer for slipping on a wet deck when you are wearing them.

 

Take some responsibility for yourself. I'm really tired of hearing whiners thinking it is someone elses fault when it is their own.

[MrPete]

I even know what SLIPPERY WHEN WET means in Spanish from those yellow cones.

 

Call me a saddist, but coincidentily, my favorite location on the Lido HAPPENS to put me in perfect view of the exact area things tend to get slippery when wet.

 

And I can almost always predict when someone is subject to falling, not by the presence of water, but the way the people strut, and the shoes they are wearing (or not), and their speed.

 

It's not only because the floor is wet at the pool area. And yes, the signs are usually there, and the guys with the mop are there too.

 

:confused: And I haven't even asked what your kid was doing in a hot tub.:confused:

[cathyoo]

I agree with most that accidents happen. What shocks me is that you were charged to be fixed. Did you have to fill out an accident report? I would think there would be some sort of recordkeeping. Don't cruise ships need to keep stats on how many people are hurt on their vessels?

 

We are all assuming that the OP fell because it was just slippery, what if there actually was a problem that could be fixed? Something like that loose stairwell carpet nailer. The young gentleman got away with a bandaid but someone else could have much more dire consequences.

[cruisinfanatic]

I can't believe some of the posters telling the OP that it was her fault because it was wet, thus it was slippery. Da! The point is that this is preventable by all cruiselines. The ship designers compromise safety to make the ships as pretty as possible. This done by using wood and tile. The stupidest thing you can put near a place that will always be wet, the hut tub and pools. Some ships have the rubberized product all the way around, but not many. Read the following about what happened to my BIL on the Radiance last yr. http://cruisereview.homestead.com/Tom.html

I think this is the fault of the designers of the ship for purposely building the area to be unsafe. There are ways to make it safe!

[Cotton]

Sorry for your accident - but it was an accident, just as if you were at home. Wet deck, steps, etc. Just have to be extra cautious, which I'm sure you thought you were being. Nobody does things like that on purpose - that's why they're called accidents.

 

On one cruise, while slowly walking down the stairs near the pool/hot tub area, and holding onto the railing, I slipped and sorta 'bounced' down a few steps. I had a coupla nasty scratches, a sore butt - and a very badly bruised ego ... BUT it was my own fault.

 

There are "Caution - Wet Surface" signs all around the pool and hot tub areas.

 

Let it go, and be more aware in the future.:)