Boy stabbed in eye with sword during Ann Arbor stage-stunt camp
A child was stabbed in the eye with a sword on Thursday while at a summer camp offered by an Ann Arbor-based theater group on the campus of the University of Michigan.
A boy attending the Summer Stunt Academy camp offered by Ring of Steel — a theater troupe dedicated to teaching stunt work and staged violence — was poked in the eye while rehearsing a sword-fighting scene at the Student Theatre Arts Complex, 1201 Kipke Drive, on Thursday afternoon.
In this 2008 Ann Arbor News file photo, Ring of Steel founder Chris Barbeau instructs a class in swordplay.
However, instructors decided to call the child’s father and recommended he be taken to the Emergency Room because of swelling to the eye and the fact that it wasn’t tracking movement during an initial evaluation.
Barbeau said the boy’s father indicated he could be there quickly, so an ambulance was not called. The boy’s father arrived within 10-12 minutes of the incident, Barbeau said, and took the boy to the hospital.
The child was not wearing any protective eyewear when the accident occurred.
Barbeau said protective goggles aren’t typically worn during the type of activity in which the accident occured because the swords being used, similar to fencing swords, have dull tips and there is no lunging involved in the exercise. He said it is more of a timed dance with the swords as props than a fight.
“It doesn’t involve attacking the person. It’s a memorized dance and the children are coached daily in these safety protocols,” said Barbeau.
Barbeau said in his eight years of offering the camp, this is the first incident of its type.
“It’s our firm belief that it’s a safe activity,” Barbeau said. “We view this very much as truly an accident, but that doesn’t mean that we won’t try to make changes as we do anytime any injury occurs. We evaluate protocol and try to make it safer.
“I’m truly horrified by the incident and our entire staff is stricken.”
Barbeau said there were three instructors in the room at the time of the incident with roughly 20 students, but that none of his staff witnessed the incident.
In a message posted on an Ann Arbor parenting blog, Barbeau explained the incident and said it may cause Ring of Steel to end the youth camp. Barbeau hopes to still offer the camp, which has two more sessions later this summer, but admitted it might be out of his hands.
“The insurance companies will be determining if we can continue the camp,” he said.
After explaining the incident to all the parents of campers before a performance on Friday, no parents pulled their children from the activity. Barbeau said he’s had one cancellation since the incident, but that the parents involved didn’t indicate whether the accident led to the decision.
Ann Arbor resident Tricia Masing said she had planned to send her children, ages 8 and 12, to the camp, but no longer will because of the incident. Masing’s children are friends with the injured boy.
“It definitely affected my decision…just the fact that there could be an injury that serious from it,” Masing said. “Sounded like a cool camp, but a sword in the eye isn’t so cool.”
The parents of the injured boy could not be reached for comment.
A similar incident occurred at Rudolf Steiner School two years ago in which a boy suffered vision loss and brain damage as a result of taking a sword to the eye during play rehearsal and the school was eventually sued.
The boy involved in the 2010 incident was a former camper. The swords being used for the rehearsal had been rented from Ring of Steel, and though the theatre group was not directly involved in the production, Barbeau - a parent of a student at the school - was a volunteer choreographer.
He was not in charge when the accident occurred.
Contact Pete Cunningham at petercunningham@annarbor.com or by phone at 734-623-2561. Follow him on Twitter @petcunningham.
Comments
Bjorn Arnesen
Sat, Sep 1, 2012 : 5:14 p.m.
I was a member of the Ring of Steel for 5-6 years: late summer/early fall 2000 until I left voluntarily in February of 2006. When the layers of safety are followed, this sort of thing DOES NOT HAPPEN. As I have had to explain countless times: THIS. IS. NOT. SPORT. FENCING! Armor, when worn in Ring, is for costume purposes, not protective purposes.
catmi
Wed, Jul 11, 2012 : 4:07 p.m.
I belonged to this group 15 years ago and saw only one injury in the years I attended. As soon as movies came out swinging swords or wands (Zorro, Harry Potter, PIRATES OF THE CARIBBEAN! etc etc) I urged the kids that were getting into it to attend and learn HOW to handle the weapons they were given by well meaning family and friends. One girl, 14, had been given a large double edged steel broadsword with no concept of how to use it and told me about a boy swinging it around playing pirate. I'd handled this sword (heavy, real steel, and far too sharp an edge) and the thought of it being used like that made my heart stop. I had her parents take her to the class right away. She loved it and learned how to play safe. This is not about swinging at another person, but rather about how NOT to swing at a person. So long as we watch movies with sharpened sticks and swords being waved about and poked at people, we need to make sure our kids understand proper safety handling since we are giving them these very weapons as birthday and Christmas gifts, often to replace the ones they made for themselves already. We cannot stop kids from pretending to fight like in the movies, and it isn't about professional fencing competitions. It's about safe, fun, games in your backyard.
Sebastian
Wed, Jul 4, 2012 : 1:46 a.m.
My son attending Ring of Steel camp and came out of it with a profound appreciation for safety and respect of the equipment being used. The Ring of Steel Camp has been a safe and enriching program for many years. It has an outstanding safety record, especially in contrast to the variety of camps available to our children. It is terrible that a child was hurt, and I'm certain that Maestro Barbeau handled the incident with utmost care and attention.
Joe_Citizen
Tue, Jul 3, 2012 : 10:35 p.m.
Geez, so much control and ignorance is affecting our children's lives. When I went to real summer camp we were getting hurt all the time, because it is a part of maturation. They had a nurse on hand and an infirmary, and when we had to go to it we couldn't wait to go and be children again. If the parents smother the kids too much they will have problems when they are adults. We get hurt and we get over it. Remember not even a hundred years ago children had a 30% survival rate, and they played hard and worked hard, now days kids can't even go outside without an escort.
Sebastian
Tue, Jul 3, 2012 : 8:56 p.m.
Maybe the visceral reaction to a SWORD injury unfairly inflames this misfortune. But it's theatre, which is full of swords. If this was a football camp, the kids would be risking spinal damage. If this was a baseball camp, the kids might get hit with line drives or thrown bats. If this was a gymnastics/karate/hockey camp... etc. And it's really NOT fencing. The moves are choreographed to avoid potential contact. Christopher Barbeau's camp injury record is so low statistically that it doesn't qualify as any sort of indicator. My son attended the camp-, and the focus on safety is paramount. Mr. Barbeau did his best to handle the situation in direct consultation with the father at the time, and I don't doubt that he's considering different procedures and safeguards in the future. I know that he was, and I sure that he continues to be, deeply distraught about the incident, and the knee-jerk reactions here are harsh, and uninformed.
Kitty O'Brien
Tue, Jul 3, 2012 : 5:55 p.m.
That skate board park is badly needed.
Joe_Citizen
Tue, Jul 3, 2012 : 10:37 p.m.
Sarcasm, I love it.
Rob
Tue, Jul 3, 2012 : 1:04 p.m.
My first thought/question was (knowing my own boys and their tendencies with sticks) - was the person who STRUCK the injured boy following the choreography, or was he horsing around? It seems to me that if there is no lunging officially involved in the dance, there was someone stepping outside the boundaries of the rules a wee bit.
Hotspur1468
Tue, Jul 3, 2012 : 12:52 p.m.
@ 21Andolder. Accredited by who? Ring of Steel is an organization that has been around for over three decades. Chris is a master instructor of STAGE COMBAT. The reason the children were not wearing "safety" gear is simple. Actors do not wear it while preforming on stage. Part of the learning process is how to execute choreographed moves. A stage fight is like dance but has a whole different set of rules designed for safety. There is no such governing body that could accredit Ring of Steel. This is a case where the buyer ( the camper and the parents) need to do their homework and research the safety of the camp. One accident in eight years is better than most places anywhere in the world. I would send my children in spite of the injury.
PropsByPat
Mon, Jul 9, 2012 : 5:16 p.m.
What makes him a "Master". I do not see his name anywhere on "The Society of American Fight Directors" website? They ARE the governing body that accredits instructors.
TAG
Tue, Jul 3, 2012 : 12:36 p.m.
It seems like most commenters don't know the difference between theatrical sword play vs. fencing, modern or historical, which are very different. To those who believe goggles would have solved everything, while they might have helped in this situation, they are not sufficient protection in many cases where point weapons are concerned. That's why safety protocols are taught as protective gear can give a false sense of protection which can lead to worse injury. A fencing mask could have prevented this accident if it was being worn at the time but RoS is oriented toward theater - how many plays do you see where the sword fighters are wearing fencing masks?
OLDTIMER3
Tue, Jul 3, 2012 : 12:19 p.m.
An unfortunate accident. Some people can't get it through their heads it wasn't a fencing class. It was staged make believe sword fighting. Though I think there should have been protection until the fight was thoroughly rehearsed. Hope the young man gets his sight back once the swelling goes down. Like one poster said you can't prevent all accidents. I knew of a fellow playing horse shoes when a child ran behind him just as he swung his arm back to make his throw. Wham right in the face of the child. Adults all over the place but it still happened.
Brad
Tue, Jul 3, 2012 : 12:05 p.m.
I'm surprised at the number of people jumping to the defense with the "accidents happen" dismissal. There's a reason for that saying "beats a sharp stick in the eye". A dull stick isn't that much better.
Katie Anne
Tue, Jul 3, 2012 : 11:39 a.m.
@common sEnse .. I like your comment. We live in the country. My kids favorite toys.. Sticks. Should I start making them wear goggles whenever they walk out the door?!? Maestro is a well respected teacher. He is obsessive about safety. The fencing students always wear their full protective gear because they are trying to "poke" each other! 3 of my boys have taken the stage combat classes. Like I said.. Safety first in maestros classes! (and my 2 y/o was hit by a bat in "backyard baseball" by an accident.. Like I said.. Goggles for all children's play, now?
A2lover
Tue, Jul 3, 2012 : 11:18 a.m.
Is Ring of Steel accredited? I don't think so. Just thinking that by doing it for a few years makes you qualified to teach stage combat is misguided and myopic.
PropsByPat
Mon, Jul 9, 2012 : 5:42 p.m.
Susan, I can't find Chris Barbeau's name anywhere on "The Society of American Fight Directors" website? Only founding member Erik Fredricksen and Christina Traister are mentioned in the state of Michigan. So who has accredited him?
Susan Montgomery
Tue, Jul 3, 2012 : 1:21 p.m.
He has not just been doing it for a few years. From the Ring of Steel website: Currently the fight director for the Michigan Opera Theater, the Toledo Opera, Village Shakespeare Festival and the Michigan Classical Repertory Theater, Maestro Barbeau has been involved in stunt work for 37 years with 23 feature film credits, over 400 stage credits and more appearances in various venues as a swordfighter than could be properly enumerated. Formerly the fight master for the Michigan Renaissance Festival, he holds a 3rd degree black belt in Aikido, a 2nd degree black belt in Jiu Jitsu. 23 years ago he created and currently directs the Ring of Steel Action Theatre at the University of Michigan, teaches a wide variety of classes as both a regular and guest instructor at all levels for area schools and provides instruction in theatrical combat and stunts. He has been working with opera singers for last 10 years and was a guest artist for both the Philadelphia Opera and Opera Pacific last year as well as a regular invited guest artist at Cornell and for the National Educational Theater Association's International Thespian Festival. Maestro Barbeau is a member of the Society of American Fight Directors, International Society of Movement Educators, SAG and the United Stuntman's Association.
AnnArborite27
Tue, Jul 3, 2012 : 4:18 a.m.
The child cannot see out of his eye for 4 days now. The instructor should have provided safety masks for swordplay.
commonsense
Tue, Jul 3, 2012 : 4:01 a.m.
Fortunately, nothing like this ever happens in any respectable sport.. For instance, no one ever gets hit in the eye, nose, or teeth in baseball! Otherwise I'm sure that parents everywhere would be calling coaches irresponsible for not requiring players to wear full face masks. Or in martial arts, where no one ever gets injured thanks to those mandatory steel chest plates and personal airbags. Wait... Say what now...? Please, folks. *All* activity, especially sports activities, carry some risk, and an accident does not imply or require someone to be at fault.
AnnArborite27
Tue, Jul 3, 2012 : 4:39 a.m.
YpsiVeteran, it is true that the article doesn't say if there was a choice, but it isn't up to 12-year-old to judge the danger of swordplay. It's up to grown-ups. Sure baseball has resulted in more fatalities, but it's also played by many more people. Surely swordplay is inherently dangerous. I mean swords are weapons, pure and simple. Baseballs are not made to be weapons. Baseballs "can be" dangerous. Swords "are" dangerous.
YpsiVeteran
Tue, Jul 3, 2012 : 4:29 a.m.
AnnArborite, yeah, baseball can be plenty dangerous. More kids die every year from being hit in just the wrong spot by line drives than have ever died in the history of fencing. Your determination to fix blame is misplaced. There's no information that anyone was prevented from wearing eye protection if they had chosen to, and the article does not give enough information for anyone to know exactly how the accident occurred.
AnnArborite27
Tue, Jul 3, 2012 : 4:16 a.m.
A baseball is as dangerous as a 12-year-old with a sword? That's your argument?
fishjamaica
Tue, Jul 3, 2012 : 3:19 a.m.
It was a lot of fun, until...
YpsiVeteran
Tue, Jul 3, 2012 : 2:41 a.m.
Today's completely helpless college freshman, and I suspect more than a few of the kids responsible for the recent epidemic of school shootings, are the first-generation result of parenting with the goal of protecting kids from every even-remotely-possible source of physical and emotional pain and injury, no matter how trival. From the reports, this camp has run successfully for many years with zero injuries. Accidents happen. I sincerely hope this boy makes a complete and speedy recovery, and that the incident is evaluated to see if something could have been done to avoid it, but to cancel the camp would be a pathetic, knee-jerk reaction that benefits no one but insurance companies.
AnnArborite27
Tue, Jul 3, 2012 : 4:41 a.m.
I know more about this story and the nature of the injury are presented at the hospital than the reporter is telling.
YpsiVeteran
Tue, Jul 3, 2012 : 4:34 a.m.
Your conclusions are based on....what? It appears only your assumptions about what happened. Calling people reckless is irresponsible and, based on the information in the article, unsupportable. You can make your kid wear anything you want when he or she goes to stunt camp. If you choose not to, does that make you "reckless"? Who are you to criticize and judge the choices of the parents, or the camp leaders, or anyone involved in this unfortunate accident?
AnnArborite27
Tue, Jul 3, 2012 : 3:59 a.m.
The leadership is reckless. He was lucky for 8 years. Who doesn't give a sword fighting class safety masks?
Chris Hall
Tue, Jul 3, 2012 : 12:52 a.m.
Two days ago my son did a face-plant on concrete after a fall from his bike. His helmet left an impression on his forehead where it took the brunt of the fall. Do you think I'm going to go back to the good old days when we thought helmets were for sissies? Nope. I'm glad to have my son and I'll buy him an even better helmet now. Yep, all kids with swords should have eye protection. Just plain smart. To think that just because we didn't have safety gear when we were kids is illogical. My mom brought me home from the hospital in our Plymouth station wagon - I was in her lap and she was in the front seat with no seat belt. That was the norm back then. But, why would we want to go back to doing things that way? Oh, and lawnmower deflectors were also a "modern" invention. Seems debris flying out at 90 mph was also normal.
Michigan Man
Tue, Jul 3, 2012 : 12:33 a.m.
I thought the smartest people in the USA lived in Ann Arbor?
Ron Granger
Mon, Jul 2, 2012 : 11:51 p.m.
DANGER--Do not look into laser with remaining eye
Ann English
Mon, Jul 2, 2012 : 11:43 p.m.
In part of the article, it's called a "sword fight," in another part it's called, "sword dance." Sword Dancer was the name of the 1959 Belmont Stakes winner, and I distantly remember a male French figure skater pretending to use a sword in a post-competition exhibition on a skating rink, and one from Russia immediately following him with a real sword, dancing on the ice. Of course, that kind of sword dancing is much safer; you're nowhere near another person with a sword, blunt or not. If foils are supposed to be blunt or have sharp tips covered, then the Slave Girl episode of Gilligan's Island gave the false impression that foils are sharp enough to cut through cloth without even being aimed at it; but of course that was for the comedic effect of Gilligan splitting the Skpper's pants open with a foil WITHOUT LOOKING . But like this injury in the current story, Gilligan's foil drew no blood.
AnnArborite27
Tue, Jul 3, 2012 : 3:58 a.m.
He still can't see out of his eye 4 days later. Tell that to Mr. Barbaeu next time you meet him. Spend the $10 on safety goggles.
Keith Hood
Mon, Jul 2, 2012 : 10:52 p.m.
Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) is a requirement in many jobs, including mine. As one comment noted, fencers wear masks. These kids should have at least had safety glasses. Even my dentist makes me wear safety glasses now. Hopefully, PPE will become the rule for this camp.
peg dash fab
Mon, Jul 2, 2012 : 10:32 p.m.
Not just any goggles — Google Goggles, so we can all watch the replay on YouTube!
Christopher
Mon, Jul 2, 2012 : 10:12 p.m.
When I was in college at CMU and Took Fencing Classes we were required to have a cup, Fencing Jacket, Leather Glove and Fencing Hood that is Metal Mesh. Our Foils did have Rubber Tips on the end but still it is a length of steel that you are using. As it is said it is all fun and games until some one get hurt. I don't think Goggles would of helped as much as a Fencing Hood/Mask would of.
Chris Hall
Tue, Jul 3, 2012 : 3:01 a.m.
It wasn't "fencing" but it was still kids swinging around long skinny metal objects. The kids should wear eye protection, but I totally agree it was just an accident and shouldn't prevent the show from going on.
YpsiVeteran
Tue, Jul 3, 2012 : 2:31 a.m.
Didn't anyone read the actual article? This was NOT A FENCING CLASS. It was DRAMATIC THEATER STUNT CAMP. No one was being taught to fence.
Renee S.
Tue, Jul 3, 2012 : 1:07 a.m.
Fencing and stage fighting are *completely* different. In fencing, the aim is to hit the other person with your sword. In stage fighting, the aim is to NOT to hit the other person with your sword. It is completely choreographed.
justcary
Mon, Jul 2, 2012 : 10:04 p.m.
Put that away before you put someone's eye out! Yeah, yeah, yeah mom...
Linda Peck
Mon, Jul 2, 2012 : 9:22 p.m.
My grandson was at this camp and said it was a great experience and his friend who participated also got a lot out of it. In thirteen years of running this camp, apparently no one has been injured. It is a shame that this happened. I understand through the grapevine that the child's eye was not involved. It was a superficial skin wound. The report does not reflect this.
AnnArborite27
Tue, Jul 3, 2012 : 3:55 a.m.
Your grapevine is wrong. The kid can't use his eye.
a2citizen
Tue, Jul 3, 2012 : 1:35 a.m.
Hans, Are you speaking for the family with their permission? No problem with your info, just wondering if you have family approval.
Linda Peck
Mon, Jul 2, 2012 : 11:17 p.m.
Thank you, Hans Masing, for the updated information. I am very sorry to hear this.
Hans Masing
Mon, Jul 2, 2012 : 11 p.m.
Your grapevine is incorrect. The injury was substantial, and probably will cause permanen damage.
SWard
Mon, Jul 2, 2012 : 8:58 p.m.
My son was an attendee at the camp session where this happened, though he did not witness the actual event. My family had attended two demonstration sessions prior to our signing up for the summer camp. If there was one thing made clear during those demonstration sessions, the Ring of Steel is committed to safety . Though wrenching for the family involved, this incident happened not because there was any "lack of supervision" or lack of thought and effort behind attempting to ensure safety for the campers. Regrettable is this incident is, and in no way either implying any fault of the injured camper, it was truly an accident. I wish to express my confidence in Maestro Barbeau and his Company, with my sincere hope that this incident does not end his eight year track record of successful and safe camps.
YpsiVeteran
Tue, Jul 3, 2012 : 8:34 p.m.
AnnArborite, if your argument is this is all the "fault of the adults," why are you giving the parents a pass then? How is it you see fit to blame some adults, but not the rest of them?
AnnArborite27
Tue, Jul 3, 2012 : 3:54 a.m.
Dude, how expensive are goggles? There are swords around 12 year-olds. Give them some goggles. It's the fault of the adults in charge: Chris Barbeau and his U-M Freshman assistants.
Chris Hall
Tue, Jul 3, 2012 : 3:04 a.m.
Ummm. SWard, Any activity that requires "six levels of safety" surely qualifies for protective gear. Eye protection is so darned easy to provide, why would we not simply say it should be done in the future?
SWard
Mon, Jul 2, 2012 : 11:21 p.m.
timjbd - I feel compelled to point to the erroneous reference to your use of the word "fencing". If you understand what fencing really is, what the kids were doing was *not* fencing. This was not a fencing camp. And, no, I did not consider providing my kid with goggles. As I mentioned, during the two demonstration sessions I attended earlier in the year, it was absolutely clear to me the extent to which the RoS went to teach safety techniques in their classes. Over a two hour period, they explicitly demonstrated the six levels of safety in this line of study, and how they integrated that knowledge into the camp curriculum. I took shop class in junior high and was very nearly impaled by a flying screwdriver once. Goggles probably wouldn't have helped. Just like that case, this was an accident.
Hans Masing
Mon, Jul 2, 2012 : 10:59 p.m.
@timjbd, I googled the goggles... *boggles*
timjbd
Mon, Jul 2, 2012 : 9:15 p.m.
Or even goggles?
timjbd
Mon, Jul 2, 2012 : 9:05 p.m.
The Maestro needs to make sure kids are wearing goggles when they are fencing. Real fencing instructors would be appalled with the Maestro. Just out of curiosity, why didn't you provide your kid with googles? Did the Maestro tell you they were unnecessary?
timjbd
Mon, Jul 2, 2012 : 8:49 p.m.
It's hard to believe- after the same thing happening two years ago- that this group would not implement eye protection for these kids. This is a massive lapse of judgement. "The insurance companies will be determining if we can continue the camp," he said. Sounds like someone more responsible needs to be in charge, at least. As for the "let kids be kids" argument- when I was a kid, nobody wore bike helmets. How many kids had to suffer brain damage or die falling off bikes before it became normal for kids to wear bike helmets? Wearing a helmet hardly takes the fun out of biking unless your kid is the most serious libertarian. If that's the case with your kid, teach him fencing, un-goggled, yourself. Car seats, seat belts, banning underage smoking, football and hockey pads and helmets all seem obvious. Why not safety goggles (at least) when teaching fencing? I don't know how many kids come into contact with this faux fencing but this is two seriously injured kids in two years. You can't blame parents for not realizing these lessons were NOT going to be run with proper safety equipment.
timjbd
Tue, Jul 3, 2012 : 1:44 p.m.
2010-2012 = 2 years. If, for 6 years there are no accidents, then there are two in a short period of time, it's sensible try to figure out if it's a trend that needs to be addressed. One is too many if it's easily avoided with simple safety measures.
Rob
Tue, Jul 3, 2012 : 12:58 p.m.
It is two injuries in EIGHT years, not in two. How many injuries do you see in a single season on a school playground?
Renee S.
Tue, Jul 3, 2012 : 1:05 a.m.
This is not fencing. Fencing is unchoreographed fighting. Stage fighting is not fighting; it's only made to look like fighting.
Billy
Mon, Jul 2, 2012 : 8:42 p.m.
It's all fun and games until.........
5c0++ H4d13y
Wed, Jul 4, 2012 : 1:53 a.m.
It's not funny until someone looses and eye.
Patrick Haggood
Mon, Jul 2, 2012 : 8:37 p.m.
Good gravy people, can we STOP giving kids real swords to play with? http://www.annarbor.com/news/crime/student-was-injured-by-sword-during-school-play-rehearsal-lawsuit-claimes/
Terry Brennan
Tue, Jul 3, 2012 : 12:09 p.m.
Yeah! Virtual swords are much healthier!
saintketih
Mon, Jul 2, 2012 : 8:28 p.m.
How about changing this from the inflammatory and patently false "stabbed" to poked, hit or struck? The comparison to an incident at Rudolf Steiner School is also clearly meant to be inflammatory. Completely irresponsible reporting.
AnnArborite27
Tue, Jul 3, 2012 : 3:53 a.m.
I don't see that a swipe across the eye that renders it useless is nit serious. The boy is really injured. He can't use his eye. Why do you care if he was "stabbed" and can't see now or just "swiped" and can't see now? You weren't there. The fact is he was given no safety equipment. Another child with a sword injured his eye and now he might be maimed for life.
Hans Masing
Mon, Jul 2, 2012 : 10:58 p.m.
The extent of the injuries is substantial - the boy wasn't 'poked' - the sword penetrated his eyeball, travelled along the orbital bone, and stopped within a centimeter of the carotid artery. Not a 'poke' by any means.
say it plain
Mon, Jul 2, 2012 : 9:27 p.m.
I agree, this is definitely aimed at maximum inflammation...it's the business model, reporting isn't!
kathryn
Mon, Jul 2, 2012 : 8:18 p.m.
Accidents happen. Unless there is evidence that the kids were out of control and running wild, I don't see why this should shut down the program or lead to lawsuits. Protective eyewear? It might be a good idea...but do you insist that your children wear it at school when they are around the pencils (which they also use for sword fighting?) We all hope this young person has a quick and full recovery.
boo
Mon, Jul 2, 2012 : 8:16 p.m.
Note to parents: When kids swing swords at each other, even if it is part of an act or routine, sometimes accidents happen. Your kid might get stabbed or poked in the eye. Kind like when we were kids and and climbed trees, sometimes branches break and you fall. Hopefully you are not too high up when it happens. I can't wait for the lawyers, insurance companies and the even ACLU will wiggle it's way into this one!
AnnArborite27
Tue, Jul 3, 2012 : 4:45 a.m.
Ypsi_Wings_Fan, this was a preventable and needless accident. The instructor should have known better and shouldn't be trusted. You can't just say "accidents happen" until it happens to you. It wasn't as innocent as this article appears. It was really negligent. I've never sued anybody and have climbed plenty of trees - but the trees weren't swinging swords at me.
Ypsi_Wings_Fan
Tue, Jul 3, 2012 : 4:27 a.m.
AnnAr.27 I feel like your childhood was lacking a lot of what made mine fun. Kids choke in the lunch room of schools, does that mean we should cancel lunch?
AnnArborite27
Tue, Jul 3, 2012 : 3:50 a.m.
Thanks for focusing on the hurt little boy!
swcornell
Mon, Jul 2, 2012 : 8:11 p.m.
I've worked with kids at camps for years. Accidents happen, no matter how well trained and vigilant the staff. Would you rather they be running around the woods near your home unsupervised, poking at each other with sharpened sticks while smoking joints? There's absolutely no way to 100% ensure that kids are perfectly safe short of chaining them to their beds and locking their bedroom doors. And I think there's criminal law involved in that. They're still better off participating in adult supervised activities! Let them have their fun!
Ypsi_Wings_Fan
Tue, Jul 3, 2012 : 4:24 a.m.
Cornell, well said. first realistic response I'v read.
AnnArborite27
Tue, Jul 3, 2012 : 3:49 a.m.
No safety equipment means you aren't acting responsibly. Even a stick can poke out an eye. What a careless instructor and a group of college freshman.
treetowncartel
Tue, Jul 3, 2012 : 2:24 a.m.
What you described has happened, and no one has gotten hurt, but it was followed by twinkies and mountain dew and no one got hurt.
Hans Masing
Mon, Jul 2, 2012 : 7:57 p.m.
It's unfortunate that the story is about the potential of the camp shutting down, rather than the fact that the injured boy may be blinded and permanently injured. The camp sounded really cool, and my kids were looking forward to going, but this is a pretty serious lapse in safety protocols. The fact that there were children with swords in their hands and the injury was not observed by any of the adult supervisors means that the kids weren't supervised.
AnnArborite27
Tue, Jul 3, 2012 : 4:07 a.m.
The boy has not been able to see out of his eye for 4 days now. It was immediately clear after the fact.
Basic Bob
Tue, Jul 3, 2012 : 2:53 a.m.
Obviously you never had a kid break an arm at your house. Supervision means that there is an adult present to give direction and respond to situations, not that there are ten eyeballs on every kid from every direction 100% of the time.
YpsiVeteran
Tue, Jul 3, 2012 : 2:49 a.m.
Did you read the article? It says the boy didn't even express any symptoms of a serious puncture. It sounds like he might not have even been aware of the situation himself. How does that reflect poorly on the supervision of the campers? Not every accident in life can be prevented. Does the fact that the camp has operated successfully, with no injuries, for a number of years not carry at least as much weight as one unfortunate accident?
cinnabar7071
Mon, Jul 2, 2012 : 9:42 p.m.
Did we read the same story? "Boy stabbed in eye with sword during Ann Arbor stage-stunt camp"
Moira Payne
Mon, Jul 2, 2012 : 7:54 p.m.
I hope this ends well for the children involved. Unfortunately for all of us parents and caregivers, kids get hurt! I am happy to hear that this wasn't a "real" sword, but rather one that is used for this type of practice. I applaud the instructor, Chris Barbeau, for insisting on the child being taken to the hospital. After reading this article and looking into the instructors, I am interested in sending my child to this camp. (He wants to attend football camp, but I think that's much too dangerous!)
Mike
Tue, Jul 3, 2012 : 7:48 p.m.
kids don't get hurt.....someone needs to be held accountable!
AnnArborite27
Tue, Jul 3, 2012 : 4:05 a.m.
I think this sword was plenty real. Chris Barbaeu did not insist on taking the child to the hospital. Instead he called the dad and waited around while the swelling got worse. More important than his lack of actions after-the-fact is why didn't he give face masks to kids waving sharp metal swords or "not real swords" or whatever. The kids can't see out of his eye 4 days later. Instead annarbor.com lets Barbaeu claim "it was an accident" without trying to interview anybody else. I wonder what a real swordsman would say about swordplay with no safety equipment.
AnnArborite27
Tue, Jul 3, 2012 : 3:48 a.m.
The sword was real enough to damage the kid's eye. He can't see out of it and Mr. Barbaeu did not insist on sending the kid to the hospital. instead he called the dad. He didn't tell the dad anything until he arrived.
treetowncartel
Tue, Jul 3, 2012 : 2:21 a.m.
Send him to football camp. Learning proper technique at a ypunger age is a good thing. He will learn that he doesn't need to lead with his helmet. BTW, they need to go back to leather helmets in football. Look at Australian Rules, they don't even wear helmets or pads and nobody goes in for the crushing blow head first. But hey, take the helmet away and that is one less place for marketing.
timjbd
Mon, Jul 2, 2012 : 9:16 p.m.
Send him with goggles.
John Tuttle
Mon, Jul 2, 2012 : 7:42 p.m.
"similar to fencing swords"? Like, foils? The things with the big rubber tips to prevent a stab from hurting someone? This is, however, why fencers wear those giant wrap-around helmets. No reason to ever go without head protection when messing around with any sort of long pokey things.
Renee S.
Tue, Jul 3, 2012 : 1:02 a.m.
Fencers wear protective gear because the moves aren't choreographed. This is a completely different case from stage fighting. Stage fighting is just that- fighting that is choreographed like in a play or movie. There's no protective gear because Romeo would look like an idiot wearing a fencing helmet while battling off Paris.
Hans Masing
Mon, Jul 2, 2012 : 7:50 p.m.
The mother of the injured boy is a friend of ours, and there were no rubber tips on the swords/foils. The boy was in a T-Shirt and shorts, no other protective gear was worn. I agree completely that there was no reason to not at least wear goggles or safety glasses.
Randy Dunning
Mon, Jul 2, 2012 : 7:42 p.m.
"In a message posted on an Ann Arbor parenting blog" Is there a reason that blog post isn't linked? I'd like to read it.
Hans Masing
Mon, Jul 2, 2012 : 7:51 p.m.
It's a parenting email list, not a blog. ArborParents on Yahoo.
Pete Cunningham
Mon, Jul 2, 2012 : 7:36 p.m.
The Ring of Steel theatre group was referred to as Ring of Fire on a few occasions when the story was originally posted. The correction has been made. Also, details have been added to clarify Chris Barbeau's affiliation with the 2010 Rudolf Steiner School production detailed above.
Kitty O'Brien
Tue, Jul 3, 2012 : 3:49 p.m.
Pete - A follow up on the child's condition would be appreciated. Eye injuries are scary. My thoughts and prayers are with him.
AnnArborite27
Tue, Jul 3, 2012 : 3:46 a.m.
Pete, did you or your staff actually call the parents for their input before you ran this story on behalf of UMich & Mr. Barbaeu?
David Muzzatti
Mon, Jul 2, 2012 : 7:14 p.m.
Remember when Summer Camp was just Summer Camp......FUN......with no insurance companies within a thousand miles?
Bjorn Arnesen
Sat, Sep 1, 2012 : 6:28 p.m.
Swords in the Ring of Steel are not sharp in the sense of "have an edge", say it plain. They are only sharp in the sense of "being pointy".
AnnArborite27
Tue, Jul 3, 2012 : 4:01 a.m.
This isn't about an insurance company. It's about a kid loosing his sight.
say it plain
Mon, Jul 2, 2012 : 7:23 p.m.
you must be pretty ancient then lol... Insurance has been part of the scene for a long time when it involves kids away from home and not at school. And playing with sharp things, or on lakes, etc. Probably the rates were lower long ago, but I'm guessing as long as summer camps have been licensed and regulated at all as child-care settings, there's been insurance involved.