Park incident Post Reply

[Alexington]

Please can anyone offer some advice as I feel a little traumatised by an experience today and don’t want it happening to anyone else. I left the house with my toddler for the first time in 7 days to use my one exercise allocation. We went to Heathbrook Park. A gathering of 10-15 dog walkers were there with dogs unleashed. One of the dogs ran at my toddler who started crying. One of the women in the group came really close to us and asked if we were ok. I should have run for the hills at this point but stupidly chose to be polite and said we were ok. She then attempted to touch my child’s face. I was in total shock. Luckily I moved my toddler away but it happened so quickly I can’t be sure. I ran home with her to clean us both up but now I feel complete anger. What can I do to report them? It wasn’t a 999 kind of incident obviously but they were so openly flouting the rules and put my family at risk. I have a lot of anxiety over this incident.

[coldatchristmas]

Hi, firstly sorry for your stress, as if there aren't enough difficult situations to be dealing with just now. 
I'm not a doctor, but I imagine if you went home quickly and washed etc. then your toddler will be ok, that is even she touched his face at all?!

With regards to the woman trying to touch your child's face, I am sure that she meant no harm, just probably wanted to be kind and reassuring. Admittedly not in keeping with the current 2 metre sentiment but I think that she may well have acted instictively.

xx
 

[vickiwhar]

Considering there are doctors and nurses working with very seriously ill people without any protective gear at the moment I think you and your child will be fine.

[Pentneyprincess]

I think you will be fine. It sounds very traumatic. If you had seen the group of dogs, why did you keep walking that way. The woman was being kind and probably completely forgot about the new rules and just wanted to make sure your toddler was ok. There are far worse things happening at the moment. Please let the experience go and move on.

[Kirstie’s Mom]

Traumatic . Oh please . People not getting respirators and dying in hospitals is traumatic . Get a grip .go home wash your child’s face and move on . 999 has enough to deal with . Absolutely no sympathy here sorry

[dudette]

I’m a bit worried about your mental health if you found that incident “traumatic”! The woman was probably concerned for your child and momentarily forgot that we are supposed to be keeping our distance (easily done when you are thinking of something else). She touched your child’s face and in doing so probably put herself at far more risk than your child (given children seem to be getting only very mild symptoms if they get Covid-19.) Please get a grip. If you find a well-meaning stranger touching your child’s face traumatising then I dread to think how you would feel if something truly bad should happen to you. Yes we should all make a real effort to maintain that two metre distance but getting hysterical when someone accidentally breaches it isn’t doing anyone any favours.

[Alexington]

Re coldatchristmas thanks for this response I appreciate it. It happened so quickly and the woman in question didn’t seem quite with it so it caused me more concern than it normally would. It seems strange to me how prominent the advice is, that someone could just forget

[Konoha]

I'm sorry you had to go through this. Thank you for informing me, I will now be more attentive to those who walk dogs.

[Alexington]

Quick update - I reported the incident to the police non emergency service on the day it happened. They just contacted me to say a woman matching the description I gave in the local area has been cautioned for anti social conduct and breaching of social distancing rules. I had a very bad feeling about her as I could tell there was something not quite right in her demeanor. If you experience a similar event, please do report it as it makes a difference.

[TanyaCam]

I'm sorry to hear that. Thank you for sharing. I wish you good health.

[Ramaboo]

NB - I live near Heathbrook park and I would try to find somewhere else to go with toddler. As it's quiet and adjacent to the train tracks, it attracts a lot of dog walkers and often daytime drinkers and there are few other people around if you were ever to need help. (We did used to occasionally go there with the kids when they were young, but only with a friend, not solo)

I realise if your child is not walking/scooting etc that may not always be possible - Larkhall park is only 10 mins away and much more open and utilised, if you can?

[TwoSoups]

It’s called instinct! God forbid we all take complete leave of our senses through all this! Don’t be so precious, please; it helps not - and certainly won’t teach your child anything other than to be highly strung.

[Kirstie’s Mom]

I’m really confused . In your earlier post you said if I read correctly that she was in a group of people with dogs chatting and now it appears she is a lone looney .

[Forgetmenot]

Considering there are doctors and nurses working with very seriously ill people without any protective gear at the moment I think you and your child will be fine.

If NHS staff are not wearing protective gear working with very seriously ill people, are you talking about coronavirus patients? All NHS staff should be wearing this equipment regardless of what they are doing in the NHS and if they are not, it is because there is a shortage of equipment, not because they are necessary. We have NHS staff dying because there isn't enough equipment to go around.