every parent read the question is do you think this is comon?

Question

Question: please read VERY IMPORTANT to anyone that knows a child?

Details of Violation: McDonalds, Chuck E Cheese, Discovery Zone... Some of you might not be parents, but you may have nieces, nephews, grandchildren or friends with children. This will pertain to you too. As I read the following, my heart sank. I urge each and every one of you to pass this on to as many people as you can. I cannot stress how important this is! This is very disturbing news. In addition to the following true story, I will also add that my own sons were playing in the ball pit at Chuckee Cheese one day. One son lost his watch, and was very upset. We dug and dug in those balls, trying to find the watch. Instead, we found vomit, food, feces, and other stuff I do not want to discuss. I went to the manager and raised hell. Come to find out, the ball pit is only cleaned out once a month. I have doubts that it is even done that often. i will add more
2006-07-27Additional
PRETTY SCARY!! Hi. My name is Lauren Archer, my son Kevin and I lived in Midland,TN. On October 2nd, 1999 I took my only son to McDonald's for his 3rd birthday. After he finished lunch, I allowed him to play in the ball pit. When he started whining later on, I asked him what was wrong, he pointed to the back of his pull-up and simply said "Mommy, it hurts." I couldn't find anything wrong with him at that time. I bathed him when we got home, and it was at that point when I found a welt on his left buttock. Upon investigating, it seemed as if there was something like a splinter under the welt. I made an appointment to see the doctor the next day, but soon he started vomiting and shaking, then his eyes rolled back into his head.
2006-07-27Additional
From there, we went to the emergency room. He died later that night. It turned out that the welt on his buttock was the tip of a hypodermic needle that had broken off inside. The autopsy revealed that Kevin had died from a heroine overdose. The next week, the police removed the balls from the ball pit. There was rotten food, several hypodermic needles: some full, some used; knives, half-eaten candy, diapers, feces, and the stench of urine. If a child is not safe in a child's play area then where? You can find the article on Kevin Archer in the October 10,1999 issue of the Midland Chronicle.
2006-07-27Additional
Please forward this to all loving mothers, fathers and anyone who loves and cares for children! Don't think it's just McDonald's either or that this is something that just started. When my oldest son who is now 9 was small the area Burger King closed their play area for awhile for "remodeling" because in another town there had been an incident similar to the one described above that happen @ a Burger King. A little boy had been playing in a ball pit & started complaining of his legs hurting. He later died too. He was found to have snake bites all over his legs & buttocks. When they cleaned the ball pit they found that there was a copperhead nest in the ball pit. He had suffered numerous bites from a very poisonous snake. I wouldn't let my son play in the ball pit after that. I was lucky even though that wasn't at our Burger King or McDonald's it could have been. I still have my son. Please send this on so that it doesn't happen to someone you know. Please send this to everyone!!!!

have you ever heard of somthing like this happening? i dont know what to believe or if to think alot of ball pits are like this.....i need your opion

ok so the kevin one is ahox what about the rest? and thats why i asked im not wasting anyones time i just coped the email pasted it and then asked what i wanted to ask, no reason to feel like im wasting my time

so this is what i found: that whole thing hoax but: "http://www.breakthechain.org/exclusives/ballpit.html has intersting facts about that it is still not safe (not deadly) for a kid to play in those things and also address' the whole thing...thank you for responding

Answer 1

I believe that these stories are bs, however i also believe that ball pits are a danger for different reasons. Children can disappear under the balls leaving them invisible to older children and they are at risk for being stepped on or worse. Also I love children but they are gross! lets face it. They don't always have the best control over their bodies and when they get excited they can pee or poop. They want to play even whe they are sick leaving them vulnerable to vomiting in the worst places. Ball pits are germ pools period!!

Answer 2

urban legends! I did, however worked at a local amusement park as a 'ball pit cleaner' . Every couple of hours the thing was shut down for a few minutes while the balls were cleaned and the basin was wiped down with disinfectant. Pretty cool machine, the balls went down a tube, disinfected, and shot back into the pit. I wouldn't worry about needles or snakes, the worry is the balls carry alot of snot and drool germs. possibly e- coli on hands, too. and some kids do pee in there while playing.

Answer 3

First of all, this identical story is on the urban legends at about.com. So why waste everyone's time with this crap? The has been going around for years.

The "Kevin Archer" e-mail being circulated these days is a hoax. There is nothing to be found in the archives. No such article appeared in this or any other newspaper on Oct. 10, 1994, or any other date as no such or similar incident ever has occurred here or been reported by any news service or in any medical or legal records.

http://urbanlegends.about.com/library/blneedle.htm?once=true&

Answer 4

well in my area and in my hometown the ball pits have been gone for years. i have heard those stories you mentioned and believe them to be true. i still dont let my son play in the play area at mcdonalds or burger king as they are enclosed slides. i aslo heard a child tell their mother they peed in it, the clothes were dry so you could imagine what happened i went and told the manager. the lady was detained and the area was closed they did find a pool of fresh urine right where her little girl said she peed. the cops were called so we left we were told we could. a week later the play area was gone inthat store. the one near my moms house had to be removed as well they found feces and urine in it as well. and rotten food. no ball pits. i havent seen ball pits in years. they were breeding grounds for all kids of things. i know of an incident with a black widow spider. the little girl did not die but she was sick for along time and did suffer some brain damage. she was 6 at the time. shes 22 now and last i knew she was still delayed. she was bit on her legs and bottom in a burger king ball pit. the whole burger king was shut down. after that. there was a huge nest in the ball pit they believe more than one spider bit her. it was terrible,shortly there after every resturant that had a ball pit had to get rid of it. they were deemed unsafe. i was a kid my self and glad to her it. my mom never let us in them when they came out i was already 8 or 9 so i was too big but my brother wasnt. my son has never played in one and he is three he is afraid of them and we have no ball pitsi had heard they were illegal now, except in an indoor enviroment where they are cleaned at least weekly

Answer 5

I remember reading about little Kevin in1999, it broke my heart. I was pregnent and gave birth to my son that year so on top of all the other normal concerns now there was this. Honestly after reading the artical only half the way through I ran to the bathroom in my home and vommited. I dont know how to answer your question dear but I do know to go with my gut instincts. If you feel sick over this maddness then I think you have your answer already. Blessings to you and to all the good folks that this may impact. May we all work together to keep all children safe.

Answer 6

WOW that Is scary I have never heard that report. God bless those who had to go through that Thank god my son is now way to big to play in the play areas.
I do know some one who went shopping for a coat at Burlington coat factory and tried on a coat and later started to feel ill.
They returned to the store and complained the store manager found the coat and with some help form the police and medical crew the manager Finlay agreed to rip the lining open and found that it was filled with small snakes.

Answer 7

U have really made a good choice posting this on the net. My heart sank when i read ur story. It is sad how u think something maybe safe but it is really far from it. I have a 2 1/2 year old son and i am always tryin my best to keep him safe. Thank you so much for this posting i will let others no the danger of these lurking places.

Answer 8

Ive heard it before. I think for the most part its like the same circular that says tampons have asbestos.

Although if a ball pit is in an obviously unclean or shady store, why would you ever want your child to play in it... for the sake of germs alone.

Answer 9

The story about Kevin Archer and the one about snakes in the ball pit are urban legends. Check snopes.com when you get these email forwards, they list tons of stories circulating and whether they are true or not.

Answer 10

Those stories have been around the internet for years. I never let my kids play in the ball pit anyway.