Is Your Children Safe in Amusement Park?

Part of the fun of family trips to amusement parks and carnivals often includes going on rides. As with any outing, safety is an important concern for parents. This Mott Poll focused on children 5-12 years old – an age range that can present several unique challenges for parents at amusement parks and carnivals. On the younger end of this age range, children need consistent supervision to ensure they meet the height requirements for rides and that they understand other safety rules (such as keeping hands away from the safety latch). Children at the older end of this age range may want more freedom to roam the amusement park and go on rides with friends like the miami ride (http://sinoamusementrides.com/miami-ride-for-sale/), without constant parental supervision.

Almost all parents in this Mott Poll reported they stayed with their child at all times during visits to amusement parks or carnivals, although some used strategies such as a set check-in time, which might be appropriate for older children. However, even when parents plan to maintain constant supervision of their child, situations occur where children get separated from their parent. Therefore, it is important to always have a back-up plan. This should be part of pre-trip planning when parents can discuss safety rules, check-in times & locations, and what to do if they get lost. Proactive measures such as these can help to ensure trips to the amusement park or carnival are both fun and safe for all.

Almost all parents in this Mott Poll believed both they and the ride operators have important roles to play in keeping their children safe. Understanding and following safety rules are important to prevent injuries. Just in over the last year, there were over 30,000 injuries at amusement parks and carnivals across the USA.

Parents in this Mott Poll indicated that there were situations in which they would report a ride operator who was exhibiting unsafe behaviors. However, parents varied in what specific concerns would prompt them to take action. Nearly all parents would report a ride operator if that person appeared to be under the influence of drugs or alcohol.

This concern was also seen in the majority of parents supporting random drug testing of ride operators. With this in mind, parents should be aware that training and supervision of ride operators is variable across amusement parks and carnivals; they should not assume that ride operators have been tested recently. There have been several reports in the media about operators losing their jobs for being high or intoxicated while on the job, often after management has been alerted by concerned parents or other guests. It is important for parents be aware of any concerns regarding ride operators to help make sure their kids stay safe at amusement parks and carnivals and report potential dangers to management.

Over two-thirds of parents would also report an operator that did not enforce safety regulations. These regulations include making sure minimum height restrictions are enforced and also checking to see all restraints are properly secured, belts are buckled and that doors and safety bars are locked in place. Enforcement of minimum height restrictions help to make sure that the restraints fit properly, both so they hold the child in place and do not pose a choking risk.

Around half of parents would report a ride operator who was on their cell phone while on duty. Even though cell phone use might seem benign, it can be a significant distraction that can increase the risk of accident or injury. Lack of attention to ride safety like the disco ride (http://sinoamusementrides.com/disco-ride-for-sale/)increases the likelihood of injury for children, and parents should consider contacting the management of the amusement park or carnival whenever they see anything that raises safety concerns.