Potentially DEADLY conditions in McDonald's playlands

[DrECJordan]

Hello everyone, I am reaching out to all moms in hopes of protecting children. This video is definitely worth taking a look at.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7XfooEfK9mc&feature=feedfbc

Erin

[Cyllya]

Weird. That's just one McDonalds though? The description on the video made it sound like it was a problem with McDonalds in general, but I have never noticed any McDonalds being like this.

They should have a corporate policy about cleaning them though.

[scottishmommy]

I've only been to one mcdonalds play land with DD and it was squeaky clean. In fact, a worker came through twice in the hour we were there and wiped down the structures with some sort of cleaning agent. I agree that they should have a corporate policy for cleaning the structures though.

[DrECJordan]

Actually, its way more than one. I went to numerous locations in AZ and have called all over the country to ask about protocol. Additionally I am getting countless emails from people in other states who have had similar experiences. (CO, WI, KY, CA, IL, NV). I got follow up lab results today that show 3 different strains of Staph, meningitis, and gonorrhae (STD).

[TCMoulton]

How would this be different than any playground - certainly these problems are not exclusive to McDonald's. Heck there was a thread here the other day about a mom who was letting her son urinate on a play structure at an outdoor playground.

[nextcommercial]

I live in Arizona, and the one near me is gross.  My teenage daughter took a daycare girl up there last year and there was dried poop rubbed into the tube... she immediately backed out, and we left. 

After watching it, I feel like I need a bath.  

[Spring Lily]

That was truly disgusting, I feel sick. Think of all the kids who touch everything in there and then go back down and eat a little more. UGH. The sad thing is that if a kid got E coli from there and the meat passed the test, the Health Dept would probably not realize it came from the playland.


Is there a corporate contact that we can write letters to? Have you considered creating a form letter that people could email? It sounds like contacting specific franchises isn't going to do anything, this needs to come from corporate.

Have you contacted the Health Dept? If this is considered a "food area" like you said, then it seems like they'd have some interest in this, too. Perhaps they would be the best ones to put pressure on the corporation?

[AFWife]

Originally Posted by Spring Lily 

That was truly disgusting, I feel sick. Think of all the kids who touch everything in there and then go back down and eat a little more. UGH. The sad thing is that if a kid got E coli from there and the meat passed the test, the Health Dept would probably not realize it came from the playland.


Is there a corporate contact that we can write letters to? Have you considered creating a form letter that people could email? It sounds like contacting specific franchises isn't going to do anything, this needs to come from corporate.

Have you contacted the Health Dept? If this is considered a "food area" like you said, then it seems like they'd have some interest in this, too. Perhaps they would be the best ones to put pressure on the corporation?

Personally, I'd call anywhere before I took my kid and ask about their policy. If they don't have one I'd be wary about taking the kids...and I'd definitely check it out. With things like this when complaints don't work you have to "vote with your wallet" so to speak...Stop going there. Encourage all of your friends to also stop going. Have them call and inform the manager that until something is done they will not be visiting. Eventually they'll realize that this is causing them to lose money.

[JudiAU]

And I always thought it was the food....

[leighi123]

I've only been to one when I was meeting a friend there, it was so nasty that I wouldn't let ds in.  

[mamazee]

I used to take my older dd to one when she was younger, and I asked the manager about how it's kept clean, and he said they contracted with an outside company to completely wash it out every other week, and they went in twice daily and washed down every surface. And a few times I went in and it was closed and there was someone in there with a hose, and I often saw people in there scrubbing inside of it, so I believe him.

I'm very surprised that McDonald's as a corporation doesn't have a strong policy about upkeep of these places and that it's left to individual franchises. I watched the video and it was disgusting. I would have walked right out too.

[Mrs. Bratton]

Originally Posted by TCMoulton 

How would this be different than any playground - certainly these problems are not exclusive to McDonald's. Heck there was a thread here the other day about a mom who was letting her son urinate on a play structure at an outdoor playground.

Every playground or park we frequent is outdoors and uncovered so, it would be washed by the rainwater. With those enclosed structures, nothing gets cleaned unless someone cleans it. It's easy to tell the difference just by looking or touching. Those play lands always feel so gross and sticky. And you can see the gunk in the cracks. If you look at an outdoor playground it just maybe some pollen, grass, or dust, ya know, normal "nature-ish" stuff. That isn't nearly as gross to me.

[grumpybear]

and I would guess that the sun would act as a natural disinfectant perhaps?

[rubidoux]

Originally Posted by DrECJordan 

I got follow up lab results today that show 3 different strains of Staph, meningitis, and gonorrhae (STD).

How long can these things stay alive inside a mcdonald's play structure?  And how would a child get gonorrhae that's inside?  Would they have to lick it or something?  Just curious...

We have only been to one mcd's play structure, but it was pretty clean and I know they clean it regularly.  I've seen them do it.  They kind of hose it down.  I don't go there as a general rule because I think the food is deadly, but I'm not worried about the play structure.  

[Spring Lily]

Originally Posted by AFWife 

Personally, I'd call anywhere before I took my kid and ask about their policy. If they don't have one I'd be wary about taking the kids...and I'd definitely check it out. With things like this when complaints don't work you have to "vote with your wallet" so to speak...Stop going there. Encourage all of your friends to also stop going. Have them call and inform the manager that until something is done they will not be visiting. Eventually they'll realize that this is causing them to lose money.

Well, to be honest I haven't set foot in a McDonalds in a very long time--I'm a vegetarian. However, we are occasionally invited with friends to go there on rainy days to get a snack and play, which is common around here even for people who don't eat much fast food. So I'm more of a "would be" customer if we end up there with friends one day.

[mamazee]

Originally Posted by rubidoux 

How long can these things stay alive inside a mcdonald's play structure?  And how would a child get gonorrhae that's inside?  Would they have to lick it or something?  Just curious...

I think the way you'd get it is by touching the ick, and then going to your table and touching a french fry and eating the french fry.

[rubidoux]

Originally Posted by mamazee 

Originally Posted by rubidoux 

How long can these things stay alive inside a mcdonald's play structure?  And how would a child get gonorrhae that's inside?  Would they have to lick it or something?  Just curious...

I think the way you'd get it is by touching the ick, and then going to your table and touching a french fry and eating the french fry.

Well, I'm feeling a little skeptical of this whole thing  --  particularly the "deadliness" of it.  And I'm wondering if all of those bacteria/viruses are also found on most public bathroom doorknobs and on the sidewalk outside my house (I am sure there's plenty of fecal matter out there, not sure if any would be human, but it's possible, there's a pretty large homeless population and we used to have a crack house on the corner, lol).  Of course, gonorrhea sounds just terrible, but I feel like it's unlikely a kid could actually get gonorrhea from the inside of that play area.  From a quick look on the web, I can't tell if sex is *really* necessary, but that is what all the websites say.  The last one I looked at said this:

How do people get gonorrhea?

Gonorrhea is spread through contact with the penis, vagina, mouth, or anus. Ejaculation does not have to occur for gonorrhea to be transmitted or acquired. Gonorrhea can also be spread from mother to baby during delivery.

(that's from the cdc website:  http://www.cdc.gov/std/gonorrhea/stdfact-gonorrhea.htm).

It's hard to tell from that whether french fry to mouth contact is enough.  The other thing they say is that doctors are required to report all cases of gonorrhea, so that makes me think that a bunch of kids around that mcd's have not contracted it.

I wouldn't feel good about my kids playing in that play area, but I am doubtful there'd be lasting harm from it.  I am wondering, though whether that mcd's is in a low income area.  That would be an angle that could get me up in arms.  I'd really hate to think that the poor kids get substandard play places while the mcd's in wealthier areas have nice clean ones.  But I think the odds are that that's true across the board.  Still, mcd's should be leaned on to remedy that.  They're getting the same price for their hamburgers no matter what the neighborhood and they should standardize the quality of their facilities.

[Llyra]

Staph can live for hours on dry surfaces, and it can be contracted as a skin infection, so no hand-to-mouth contact is even necessary.
http://www.cdc.gov/niosh/topics/mrsa/

And the ordinary methods of cleaning these places use-- spraying it quickly, and then wiping with a cloth-- often just spreads it around.

MRSA skin infections can occur anywhere. However, some settings have factors that make it easier for MRSA to be transmitted. These factors, referred to as the 5 C's, are as follows: Crowding, frequent skin-to-skin Contact, Compromised skin (i.e., cuts or abrasions), Contaminated items and surfaces, and lack of Cleanliness. Locations where the 5 C's are common include schools, dormitories, military barracks, households, correctional facilities, and daycare centers.

(from the above source)

One of the best preventatives is to make sure open sores, cuts, and scrapes are properly covered by a clean bandage.

I'm not a big germaphobe-- the opposite, really-- but those indoor play places squick me out. I don't normally go to places that have them. When I have been there, I have let my kids go in-- but I've spent the whole time being grossed-out. And I make them wash afterwards.

[Llyra]

Myself, I think it's a fantastic argument for forgoing the fast food and the artificial plastic environment, and letting kids go back to playing outside.

[mamazee]

Well we only used to go there in the bitter cold. I agree outside > play place, but sometimes it's nice to have indoor places to run around and get the energy out.