Tips for Staying Safe at Amusement Parks

June 22, 2007 — -- For thrill-seekers and roller coaster enthusiasts, the onset of summer means more frequent trips to amusement parks.

According to the International Association of Amusement Parks and Attractions, attendance at the estimated 600 theme parks across the United States is steadily climbing. In 2006, 335 million people visited theme parks worldwide.

While rides and attractions can be a lot fun, accidents do happen, such as the recent injury of a 13-year-old girl who had both feet severed after a cord snapped on a Superman ride at a Kentucky Six Flags.

ABC News asked Kathy Fackler, president of Saferparks, a nonprofit group that works to prevent amusement park ride injuries, and Tonya Chin Ross, senior public policy associate at Safekids Worldwide, a international network of organizations that works to prevent accidental injuries in children, for tips on staying safe on your next ride.

Staying Safe at Amusement Parks

1. Make certain the ride's operator is paying attention.

If it looks like the person responsible for putting the ride into action isn't alert or seems distracted, skip to the next attraction. You want to be sure that the operator is aware of both the passengers and the mechanics of the ride.

2. Use the safety equipment.

The safety belts, lap bars and railings are there for a reason, so use them. Keep a close watch on younger children who may be able to wiggle out of the constraint; many of the belts and bars are devised to prevent passengers from standing up, not flying out.

3. Listen to the instructions.

Ross advises parents to make sure their children are alert enough to go on the ride. If a child is too tired to listen to instructions from the operator or to sit up straight in the seat, their safety could be jeopardized.

4. Read the rules.

Many rides display a rules sign with height requirements for the ride. Fackler adds that these restrictions aren't steadfast rules, and parents must evaluate whether the ride is suitable for their children.

5. Do some research.

Before arriving at the park, look into the rides and various restrictions to decide which ones you will allow your children on. The more information you gather before you get to the park the better; it will be easier to tell your child that he can't go on a ride ahead of time, rather than waiting until the attraction is right in front of you.

6. Trust your instinct.

Ross reminds parents that they need to use their own judgment when deciding if a ride looks safe enough for their children. It may seem like common sense, but if a ride doesn't seem safe, don't let your children ride. Fackler adds that parents must remember that unexpected things happen, and rides are inherently dangerous.

"Look at it as a piece of machinery and be cautious," Fackler said. "It's only a two-minute thrill, and it's not worth endangering anyone's life."