Word of warning - serious eye wound in safe zone

[Sitting Duck]

Not saying ban kids either, seen plenty of 18+ dicks

and like I said I have silly mistakes - though not so serious thankfully

All the same I know I'm not perfect - far from it

Maybe safe zones should be gun free zones might help reduce the chance of this ever happening again

or a gun zone to store/leave guns - all guns as a buffer zone between game & safe zone

Gun Zone could be an expanded chrono area - masks worn at all times type of thing

if guns are kept away from safe zone then people can dry fire all they want but with masks on etc....

Only time a gun comes into safe area & lobby area is in a bag - no exceptions

I say this coz even with a gun zone you can bet somebody will carry an AK or M4 to their car and " oops " shoots a car or somebody

we can't completely eliminate stuff like this happening but think as it grows and more dumb ar$es (including myself)

more dumb ar$es take up airsoft - then the risks will increase I'm afraid

How easy the "Gun Zone" is to implement remains but think any player or site wanting to help the sport become safer would not mind too much

Alas too late in this instance, but hopefully we can all learn from this terrible unfortunate event

 

[rosco290]

Thats a good idea. Wouldn't be too difficult to implement at most sites.

 

[Sacarathe]

Thats a good idea. Wouldn't be too difficult to implement at most sites.

I think the site handing out (ballistic) safety goggles for use in the safe zone, for a £5 deposit, to be returned later would be better. For one thing, if your gun is out of your sight for too long, how can you be sure it's still safe.

 

[Albiscuit]

However, before we went to any games I ran my daughter through basic firearms safety, showing her how to safely handle an AEG. This was because I was surprised when I first went on my own that there was no practical demonstrations only a verbal safety brief. It is something she has remembered.

As a hobby that regularly comes under attack from those that don't understand it, I always wonder why some sites are run so poorly. Basic stuff like first aid seems to be hit and miss and there is no appetite for showing / training new gamers on how to handle weapons safely. Inexperienced gamers can turn up, rent an AEG firing at 350FPS and are pretty much left to get on with it. Used incorrectly at the wrong time and they can cause massive injury like this. Sad really.

This really... When I first started out I had no clue, relied on my mates showing me the ropes and using common sense to work out decent safe zone etiquette and the fact we started out at sites with smallish safe zones so the marshals are watching you even there shouting "no dry firing" and being around for advice and chats etc...

Now as we venture further and wider I have seen varying degrees of what I feel is good (or bad) housekeeping and H&S. A lot of outdoor sites just leave you to it in the safe zone. Theres no one watching you empty mags, no one asking you not to test fire weapons and totally no signage.

So I can see why accidents happen with inexperienced players.

I think sites should only allow first time players if they are chaperoned or adopted for the day by a regular or two. This would give someone with potentially no clue a good starting point and someone to show them the ropes and tell them not to be a dick!!..

 

[Albiscuit]

I am not sure on the extra zone for leaving weapons. I see plenty of people (myself included) tinkering with stuff in the safe zone. a lot of sites dont even have a decent safe zone, lack of tables, chairs, toilets etc.. so an extra area might be pushing it.

I think as long as sites are on the ball with making sure mags are out and weapons have been dry fired before entering and there are marshals around and decent signage around reminding people it would help. They do this at 'most' of my regular sites so cant be too difficult.

As mentioned though its a personal discipline thing too though. If you do not really appreciate the potential to hurt someone with an airsoft weapon and wave it around and aim at people and no one tells you its not a sensible move then this will happen again. I think sites and players both have a joint responsibility and something like a membership and induction at sites would help to eliminate this. If you had to sign up to a site to gain UKARA (and when hiring a AEG a decent thorough induction is provided) and be inducted in safe use and potential harm then it would help to eliminate silly buggers of any age.

 

[skarra333]

I think the site handing out (ballistic) safety goggles for use in the safe zone, for a £5 deposit, to be returned later would be better. For one thing, if your gun is out of your sight for too long, how can you be sure it's still safe.

Yes - good idea.

But for no charge - faffing with refunds at the end of the day would be a pain at some sites. Just do like iMax, have a bin full of them at the entrance to the site, on your way out, chuck them in. Even if a few are lost every game, bulk safe (if not stylish eye protection) is cheap enough and a very low expense for a site to incur vs. the prospect of a hefty HSE/court fine, not to mention the reputation damage after a kid loses an eye there or the like.

I should say though that this approach should only ever compliment the strictest enforcement of other safety rules, it shouldn't lead to their being diluted.

 

[DEF]

I seem to remember, when I first started playing, looking at the local-ish sites and found one in Maidenhead. I decided not to give it my patronage as on the website they had a full album of photos cataloguing (and laughing at) the various airsoft injuries people incurred.

Looks like I might have been right to avoid them.

 

[Rock-climby-Dave]

Eye pro is fine and all in the safezone, but sometimes I quite like taking it off at lunch. plus, I still don't want hitting in my teeth in the safezone.

What is required is BRIGHTLY coloured muzzle socks, clip/secure over the muzzle on the gun and nothing is coming out. Brightly coloured so you can see it easily

 

[Samurai]

I always try to encourage people do what I do. Put on the safety glasses first thing in the morning on site, and don't take it off until the car left the site. There are always some idiots firing their guns no matter which site. Yes, everyone should clear their gun entering the safe zone but that's something I can't control. I can however, protect myself.

 

[Aunty Pasty]

I'm keeping tabs on that thread on FB. Mark the owner has appeared and said he spoke to the father last night and they're awaiting an operation to remove the bb from the eye. They're also discussing barrel socks too as an option.

 

[Sitting Duck]

I think the site handing out (ballistic) safety goggles for use in the safe zone, for a £5 deposit, to be returned later would be better. For one thing, if your gun is out of your sight for too long, how can you be sure it's still safe.

I am not sure on the extra zone for leaving weapons. I see plenty of people (myself included) tinkering with stuff in the safe zone. a lot of sites dont even have a decent safe zone, lack of tables, chairs, toilets etc.. so an extra area might be pushing it.

Thing is once you start playing how do you know somebody won't come back and run off with a few people's backup weapons...

Where did that guy go - $hit where is my 74, - screw your 74 where's my sniper - f*ck them where's my other krytac & TM pistol.....

The sock idea is easier idea but still think if you don't like leaving your stuff in an en-suite area then bring it in safe-zone in a gun bag or something

I don't know what will work best for all sites but great to see we are thinking of various ways that this could be avoided or at very least reduced

Maybe the kid or his parents could sue the site for negligence but forget massive amounts of money

though I'm sure injury laywers 4 you but we will take 40% of your settlement will do their utmost to screw everyone over

I just remember a bloke losing a finger at work about 5 years ago due to a machine fault - even with unions involved he got only a modest amount

I know an eye is more severe than a finger of course but the point I'm trying to make.....

If anybody was running a site, wouldn't they be seriously reviewing their safety issues after this ???

One tiny lapse is all it could take, then they could be looking at a possible claim against them...

Ahh but you signed a waiver they argue....

But you failed to ensure all players were abiding by the conditions you were supposed to enforce and ensuring they were doing as instructed

You can see the mess that will await the site - insurance indemnity or whatever

Then they may sue the owner if that fails

It is a mess - I'm no lawyer or solicitor but as the UK ends up like America suing the ar$e of everybody I think most sites should be reviewing their safety code

The safe zone is only really a SAFER ZONE - if there is person and a gun in there it is not 100% safe due to idiot factor

In game if somebody Joe public walks a dog on field or anywhere near us, guns down well in front of us then and only then can you lift mask/eyepro - whoah betide anybody who even thinks of touching their gun or face the wrath of Happy Peter - head/owner at my local

it sickens me it has happened, could of been somebody I know or worse my own kid

It is terrible it happened - really shouldn't have, but alas it is too late but we all gotta learn from this - think we all know that

I just hope the kid's surgery goes as well as can be expected, but I ain't too optimistic

hope/wish it was a graze and minor damage but I'm shuddering coz I'm thinking otherwise....

 

[EvilMonkee]

Isnt Absolute Airsoft the lot that runs Blitz CQB as well? After the comments on that particular thread this is hardly great advertising.

 

[K@rl]

Defo barrel socks.

 

[tinkle60]

Isnt Absolute Airsoft the lot that runs Blitz CQB as well? After the comments on that particular thread this is hardly great advertising.

No that's Airborne Airsoft.

 

[Hef Legend]

I thought this was Fireball? I saw something on their FB page :S

 

[lazybike]

All mags removed before entering the safe zone and no dry-firing, no warnings and no second chances. lets hope the lad makes a full and speedy recovery.

 

[Sacarathe]

The safe zone is only really a SAFER ZONE - if there is person and a gun in there it is not 100% safe due to idiot factor

In game id somebody of public walks a dog on field or anywhere near us, guns down well in front of us then and only then can you lift mask/eyepro - whoah betide anybody who even thinks of touching their gun or face the wrath of Happy Peter - head/owner at my local

it sickens me it has happened, could of been somebody I know or worse my own kid

It is terrible it happened - really shouldn't have, but alas it is too late but we all gotta learn from this - think we all know that

I just hope the kid's surgery goes as well as can be expected, but I ain't too optimistic

hope/wish it was a graze and minor damage but I'm shuddering coz I'm thinking otherwise....

It's funny you should say that. I wonder how many liability waivers fail to distinguish between the play areas and the 'safe' areas when expressing "eye protection must be worn". Or worse, specify either/neither but not both.

 

[Sitting Duck]

I'm sure any decent lawyer could rip the owners a new one whatever the waiver says tbh

I could list loads for both sides but I'm no lawyer - but incident did take place in " safe zone "

All sites say remove mag clear gun blah blah blah - to fully check & enforce it is another matter

The safe zone will never ever be 101% safe - but we gotta make it a lot more safer

no guns - no chances - well suppose there is a risk of grenade or thunderflash going off I suppose

sorry I can't totally eliminate all risks and paint nice fluffy clouds in safe zones - got enough DIY to do at home

 

[Sacarathe]

I'm sure any decent lawyer could rip the owners a new one whatever the waiver says tbh

I could list loads for both sides but I'm no lawyer - but incident did take place in " safe zone "

All sites say remove mag clear gun blah blah blah - to fully check & enforce it is another matter

The safe zone will never ever be 101% safe - but we gotta make it a lot more safer

no guns - no chances - well suppose there is a risk of grenade or thunderflash going off I suppose

sorry I can't totally eliminate all risks and paint nice fluffy clouds in safe zones - got enough DIY to do at home

I do like how TWA sometimes do guns down/masks off breaks in the summer which actually make the play areas safer than the safe zone.

 

[jcheeseright]

Like Samurai my eyepro goes on at the start of the day and comes off at the end when I get in my car (this has the added benefit of keeping the lenses warm and therefore less likely to fog up).

I feel for the kid, if the BB has pierced his eyeball then he's probably going to lose the use of that eye.

We have to all get some kind of perspective here though, this is the first instance of this kind of thing I've heard of happening at an airsoft site. Considering how many games happen every week and how many players there are the chances of this happening are very slim, standing in an airsoft 'safe' zone is still safer than skateboarding and no one is suggesting we ban skateboards.

The only reason this will be 'bad for the sport' is if airsofters do their normal sh*t of getting on their moral high horses of wanting to 'save the sport' that's so desperately under threat from f*cking NO ONE. We are so off the radar of anyone with any real influence it's not even possible to describe it, a quick read of the Policing and Crime bill draft will show you how little our dark conservative overlords care.