A Parent's Safety Guide to Amusement Park Rides

Summer is quickly approaching and many children will soon be clamoring to visit their favorite amusement parks. Some recent and tragic accidents concerning amusement park rides has many parents concerned about safety issues, though.

Just recently, a spinning-chair ride at a California carnival collapsed and injured dozens, most of which were children. Even more shocking was an event last summer when a teenage girl had her feet severed while riding the Superman Tower of Power at Six Flags Kentucky Kingdom.

Keeping Your Kids Safe

Although death is a rare occurrence at amusement parks, injury is not. According to the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission [PDF], mobile amusement park rides were responsible for 2,500 serious injuries in 2004. Young children are at the highest risk for ride-related injuries.

This doesn't mean you should avoid amusement parks altogether, however, as many injuries can be avoided. Below are some safety tips that can help to prevent your children from being harmed.

Don't consult a ride operator for advice -- they are often just children themselves and are hardly safety experts. You need to carefully choose rides based on your own research and judgment.

Watch the ride before your child takes a turn. Are there other children on this ride? Are they terrified or are they having fun?

Teach your child to hold on tight to safety bars with both hands.

Pay very close attention to the height, weight and age recommendations on a ride. Do not break these rules, as they are there for a reason.

Don't assume your child is ready for a ride just because he or she is physically big enough. Rides are meant to thrill, not terrorize. A sensitive child may not enjoy certain rides at all.

If a metal lap bar does not fit your child snugly, he or she could slide out while the ride is in motion.

Help Make Parks Safer

Did you know that there no mandatory federal safety guidelines for the design of amusement park rides? That's right, there is very little oversight when companies make rides. Even the rides that are targeted to younger children are not childproof.

This is why you must rely on your own judgment and research, not the advice of park attendants. There are special interest groups that are currently fighting for safer amusement parks across the United States. You can also get involved by visiting the links below for more data.

CARES - The Council for Amusement and Equipment Safety is a voluntary organization of government officials who create safety regulations.

NAARSO - The National Association of Amusement Ride Safety Officials is a non-profit organization dedicated to the advancement of safer amusement park rides.

CPSC - The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission is dedicated to protecting citizens from serious injury or death. Visit this site for important statistics concerning ride-related injuries and deaths.

Reporting Unsafe Amusement Park Rides

Have you or someone you know been injured by an amusement park ride? Have you seen a ride that you suspect could be dangerous to people? If you answered "yes" to either question, then you should file a report with the CPSC and the House Subcommittee on Consumer Protection.

Also, it might be prudent to address your concerns to the office of Congressman Edward Markey (D-Mass), who is trying to pass legislation that would call for strict federal safety guidelines for amusement park rides.