Are Escape Rooms Safe?
Updated July 1, 2021
The question around escape room safety certainly has changed since I first wrote this post almost 3 years ago now. I’ve kept the original post below but updated the section to address where we are in a COVID / hopefully post-COVID world.
The question everyone is asking – Is it safe to play an escape room during the time of the COVID-19?
We’re taking extra precautions and changing how we operate to help improve the safety of our guests and our staff. Here are changes we making to allow you to enjoy our escape rooms while keeping you as safe as we possibly can.
- Private Games – we’ve now made it possible it have a private game when you book just 6 players per game
- Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) – masks are now optional for fully vaccinated guests. If you don’t have one, we’ll have one for you.
- Post-Game Cleaning – we continue to clean our rooms after every game is played
- Social Distancing – we continue to encourage social distancing when possible and have arrange our lobby/waiting area to facilitate that
- Online Waivers – our waiver is now available online and something you can fill out from your own personal device
We’re want to share our exciting escape rooms with you, and we want to make your experience as safe as we can.
When I mention that I am starting an escape room business to someone who has never heard about them before, they tend to think that I am starting a business that makes panic rooms for rich people. Once I clarify that escape rooms are not panic rooms – but rather a room you get locked into and have to solve a series of puzzles and riddles to get out of – they look a bit horrified.
The idea of being locked in a room seems to terrify many people. After seeing many scared faces, I have now adjusted my explanation of escape rooms to say that “a group of people voluntarily gets locked into a room where they have to solve a series of puzzles and riddles to get out… for fun,” which at least keeps the conversation going and people don’t slowly back away in terror.
What people really want to know is if they are safe. So here are a few basics of what an escape room should have to make sure guests have a good time in a safe environment.
LOCKS
There will be plenty of locks throughout the escape game, but a lock does NOT need to be put on the main door. Players should always have access to an exit. Whether that means the door never locks or there is an emergency release button for electromagnetic locks, players access to an exit needs to be clear and simple. This is pretty standard now as fire marshals have made it clear that actually locking people in a room is a big no-no, but when escape rooms first started this was not the case!
CAMERAS
Ideally escape games should have multiple rooms so that players can really get immersed in the game and feel like they are progressing. But having many rooms can also be disorienting, which is why it is important for escape rooms to have video monitoring. Each game should have an employee monitoring it at all times to make sure everything is going smoothly. If people start to seem disoriented, panicked or confused, the game master can quickly step in and check that everything is okay. It also helps ensure that props are not used inappropriately. Perhaps a screw driver is part of a puzzle. Having a good game monitor will make sure that no one thinks that the screw driver should be used to dismantle an outlet or something like that.
AUDIO
Having a good audio system is equally important to having a good video system. Not only can the game monitor watch everything that is happening, but the monitor can also help players in real time. Whether that means stopping someone from doing something stupid that could cause harm, or being available for guests to ask questions, the audio capabilities are an important part of game safety.
RULES
Few people truly like rules, but they’re there for safety. A good escape room will have enough rules in place to protect their guests – even if it means upsetting a guest or two. Throwing boxes to try to open them. Climbing on props. Playing intoxicated. It’s all happened. It’s not fun for other players, and it can be dangerous. It’s why a responsible escape room will enforce rules to protect the safety of their players.
Like any experience, if done properly there are no safety concerns that come with escape rooms. And for the people who say, “I could never play an escape room. I’m claustrophobic!” You’re missing the point. Great games aren’t small. They’re immersive and exciting. Our Amazon Survival game, for instance, is nearly 800 sq ft – the size of some small houses! The point isn’t to lock you in a small space but rather challenge you with creative puzzles.
Ultimately, escape rooms are a very safe form of entertainment. Good game design should be what gets players’ hearts racing, not the thought of being locked in a room!
