How Safe is Your Favorite Amusement Park?

    Summer is always a fun and exciting time for families, especially when you are planning a trip to the theme parks.  Before you head out to the amusement parks this summer with your family, you should take some precautions to making sure your family has the safest, most enjoyable time possible!

When getting on the rides, an attendant will walk down the line and make sure everyone is properly positioned and latched in before the ride begins. It is good to double-check your safety gear yourself.  SaferParks.org recommends keeping all body parts inside the ride, securing all belongings so they don’t fall out and cause injury, and never standing up on a roller coaster or rocking a vehicle that’s not controlled by riders. Make sure your children understand that if a ride stops temporarily, for any reason, they should stay seated with their restraints in place until the ride starts up again or an operator gives instructions. Finally, be extra careful in fitting straps properly on small, thin, or obese riders, especially on rides that have only lap restraints; these riders may face a higher risk of being ejected from their seats.

Going to the amusement park is supposed to be enjoyable for everyone.  Be sure to choose age appropriate rides for the kids.  Safety advocates advise parents to go on rides with children until they are absolutely sure the kids understand and can follow all safety rules. This is particularly important on slower rides, which don’t always require safety restraints. Teach your kids to ride “eyes front” to protect their neck during sudden, jerking movements.  If you notice your child seems frightened for any reason, even once you’ve boarded the ride, alert the operator before it starts so you can get off safely and find another ride.

Be smart with food and water while in the amusement parks.  Staying hydrated with water is key. Dr. Coates also recommends avoiding caffeine and candy, and doing your best to eat regular meals. If sugary or fatty snacks are in the plans for the day, Dr. Coates recommends waiting a while before getting on a ride, particularly one that spins you around; if you don’t, it may put a damper on everyone’s fun. “I did this when I was a child and they had to shut the ride down to clean the seat I was in,” he recalls.  It may be beneficial to find out what exactly is allowed to be brought in to the theme parks.  Some parks allow you to bring your own food and snacks.  If you are going to a park which does allow you to bring in your own meals, this will help you to prepare healthy meals and snacks for the day.

If your family chooses to visit a water park, there are different safety precautions to keep in mind. The most crucial thing is to know your child’s swimming ability and be cautious about allowing them into attractions such as wave pools without a life vest if they aren’t strong swimmers. Many parks lend free vests to visitors, and lifeguards can help your fit your child with the right one, says Aleatha Ezra, a spokesperson for the World Waterpark Association. Ezra also advises parents to reapply sunscreen after water activities, teach kids not to swallow chlorinated water, and stay within an arm’s length of children so you can respond if they get scared, disoriented, or overwhelmed on a water attraction.

There are all different types of accidents that occur at theme parks, from minor first aid injuries to serious ride malfunctions. But theme parks have a number of safety measures in place to ensure that your family’s time there is fun and incident-free.  What precautions will you take to ensure your family has a safe and enjoyable time at the amusement parks this summer?