For all of the awesome, free entertainment and enjoyment public parks provide, they're also filled with plenty of dangers. Some -- like accidents from going down a slide with a child on our lap -- we can try to prevent, but there are others so awful, no one could anticipate them happening. Things like what happened to 2-year-old Siann Parkinson recently that has her family fearing she could have HIV.
According to a story in The Sun, the toddler was having a lovely day with her mother in the park near her house in the U.K. She was having a blast rolling down a grassy hill, when all of a sudden her mother heard her scream. She saw blood, but what she saw next was even worse.
It seems Siann had rolled over a syringe -- the kind used by drug dealers -- and it had pierced her skin. Mom Annabel described to the Daily Mail just how quickly it happened at the park they frequented regularly:
One moment Siann was playing happily, throwing a ball for Jessie, our Staffordshire terrier dog, and rolling down the embankment in the park and the next we were rushing to hospital. She shouted out and I could see the needle in her hand, I thought she had picked it up but then I noticed blood on her right thigh and realised she had pulled it out of her leg.
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They rushed to the hospital, and while initial tests were run, they have to wait an agonizing three months for final word as to if Siann has contacted HIV. Medical professionals say the chances are small, but I can only imagine how agonizing even the smallest possibility that your baby has HIV would be during those months.
It's terrifying that something as innocent as rolling down a hill could turn so dangerous so quickly. It certainly doesn't mean we shouldn't frequent parks just because of one freak accident, but it does serve as an important reminder that as idyllic as parks seem, unfortunately, that's not always the case.
What's the most dangerous thing you've found in a public park?
Image via ell brown/Flickr
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Comments 40
We found 3 other syringes and black heroine in a cabinet near the stove where my daughter was playing with pots and pans. Aparently there was a "lip" under the stove, and between the cabinet where the carpenter had his his drugs, and left them.
Tests every 3 months for 2 years for HIV and hepititis. She's 4 now, and clear for all tests. But it was an agonizing time
I always thought my parents were crazy because they refused to let us play on public playground, in fast food playgrounds ect. bc drug users frequent parks. Now they seem very wise.
This terrifies me. We have a park across the street and I was picking up trash and got a syringe in my hand. Waiting for the test results to come back was agony. But I'm so glad it was me and not a kid. (I'm OK, thankfully) We've found them several times at that park since, and reported it to the local housing authority (who owns the park) and the police department, but they haven't stepped up cleaning efforts or drive-bys at all. It's so frustrating. My kids aren't allowed to play there anymore
The exact same thing happened to my friend's son in Spain (they live there). Thankfully everyone was OK although the main fear was hepatitis, not HIV. HIV is fragile, hepatitis is very hearty.
Rockstar, same to you! Glad it worked out ok for both of you. I don't really let mine play in ballpits and the like either.
The local PD came and picked it up, but it took them 12 hrs, and they tried to FINE us for the trouble.
That, on top of worry for my daughter... I was a complete wreck for months, and every 3-6 months I was a wreck again in the weeks it took to get the negative results
My 5 yr old just recently found a syringe on the school/public playground. Then on the way to the car we found a vodka bottle
I can't believe the PD gave you such a hard time! Officers like that are what gives all law enforcement a bad rep.