Keeping the “amusement” in children’s amusement park rides

Family visits to amusement parks, fairs, and carnivals sometimes include an unanticipated ride – to an ER. In the US, ERs see about 25,000 such visitors yearly, with young children accounting for more than a quarter of them. About one percent of these kids require hospitalization. Moreover, space-age rollercoasters injuries may have serious after-effects.

1. Parents are the ultimate safety inspectors. Most accidents are preventable. While you’re there to “please”’ your children, never let them “please, please” you into letting them on rides not suited for them. In the US and many other countries there are no federal mandatory safety standards for rides. And the oversight from local government often is murky. Be especially cautious of rides at small, seasonal parks, more so for rides that are frequently dissembled and moved.

2. Obey posted restrictions. Operators of rides base safety regulations on standard height and weight tables, not considering the great variability in size of children at a given age, and not considering children’s maturity and impulsivity. Children younger or smaller than posted limits can slip out of restraints; those older or bigger can overload rides. On rides that use single lap bars for multiple riders, the bars fit closely only against the largest passenger in the car, allowing smaller riders to stand up or slip out under the bar.

3. Match rides to your child’s temperament. Don’t coax children to try rides if they are reluctant to do so. Children who have queasy stomachs may become ill on merry-go-rounds and rollercoasters. Children have been injured when falling leaving rides that made them dizzy and nauseous. Vomiting ruins the day. Instruct children to sit down on the ground when feeling unsteady and to wait for assistance. Excessive darkness and scary scenes may frighten children, causing them to act irrationally, placing themselves and others in danger.

4. Observe rides before allowing children on them. And allow olderchildren to do so. If rides are not visible, check if there are posted descriptions and safety instructions, or ask operators. Are there sudden sharp curves or ups and downs? Can the ride be stopped if a child becomes unruly or overly frightened? Are the children exiting the ride content or staggering? Are operators friendly, attentive and helping children on and off?

5. Check “kiddie” rides. These rides move slowly, have no ups and downs or sharp curves, and are safe for seated, cooperative toddlers. However, many rides have inadequate safety restraints. Some toddlers are unpredictable and impulsive, and may become “spooked’ for no apparent reason. They may get up during the ride, fall out, or become entangled in inappropriate safety devices.

6. Instruct children in safety. Tell them not to clown, to keep arms and legs inside, to hold on tightly with both hands, and not to stand up until instructed, never before reaching the unloading platform. If they become frightened, they should stay seated, close their eyes, hold on tight, and, if they wish, scream out loud. They should not attempt to retrieve objects they drop.

7. Be wary of trampolines, “bounce houses” and inflatable slides. The numbers of injuries on such rides would be labeled an epidemic were they illnesses, says the American Academy of Pediatrics. Falling off, crashing into other children, or jumping incorrectly can result in strains, sprains, and potentially serious head and neck injuries. Trampolines should only be used in supervised programs, with safety guidelines strictly followed. Also, zip lines are soaring in popularity, resulting in several thousand ER visits yearly, with children younger than 10 years of age accounting for almost half of injuries.

8. Know your rollercoasters. Many recently built ones reach speeds in excess of 100 miles (160 kilometers) per hour, have precipitous drops of more than 300 feet (91 meters), accelerate from top speeds to near standing in seconds, make hairpin turns, and include stretches where riders are suspended with heads dangling downward. (Currently, the world’s fastest rollercoaster is in Dubai, United Arab Emirates, reaching speeds of 149 miles (239 kilometers) with sheer drops of 400 feet (121 meters). The fastest rollercoasters in the US go about 120 miles (194 kilometers) per hour with sheer drops greater than 300 feet (91 meters).

9. Can modern roller coasters cause lingering brain injuries? Possibly, say neurologists. There are about a dozen reports of individuals, including children, experiencing stroke-like symptoms soon after such rides. The rollercoaster’s maneuvers create gravitational forces sufficiently vigorous to vibrate brains back and forth against skulls, possibly causing bleeding into the brain. Posted minimal height limits for rollercoasters generally allow four-year-olds to go on tamer rides and children of eight or nine years to ride on the “thrillers.”

10. Additional Tips. Prepare children for getting lost. See http://kidstraveldoc.com/preparing-your-children-to-becoming-lost… Scarves and other loose clothing may get caught in safety equipment… Tie down very long hair… Avoid footwear that can fall off… Large meals before rides favor vomiting… Chewing gum and sucking candies can cause choking… Are older siblings and grandparents sufficiently safety conscious to chaperone your younger children?

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