Amusement Park Safety

Amusement park safety is something everyone needs to consider before venturing into any park or carnival. Over the summer months, children and adults alike will find themselves in unpleasant or serious situations they do not expect because they have not taken the time to anticipate the safety measures they should take at amusement parks.

Whether it is a nasty sunburn or a fall from a ride, parents and children alike need to be aware of what they can do to prevent injuries and unhealthy aftereffects of too much fun in the sun. Amusement Park safety is up to you.

Keep in mind that there are NO federally mandated safety standards for amusement park rides. Use your best judgment in determining if your child should get on a particular ride or not. Just because he/she meets the height limits does not mean it is a safe ride for your child. Some children develop faster than others (with regard to age) and others have weight issues that might make riding a certain ride unsafe. That is not meant to be unkind in any way. It is a fact, though, that if harnesses or lap belts are not worn properly or do not fit in a correct way, someone could get hurt.

To ensure your next visit to an amusement park is safe and enjoyable, take a look at the list below.

Amusement Park Safety is your responsibility.

Here are some guidelines for amusement park safety:

• Never allow your child to go on any ride unaccompanied. Children must be secured safely with harnesses, lap belts or whatever is available. Do not expect your child, whatever his/her age, to be able to address this issue by without assistance.
• Make sure your children know what to do if they get lost in the park. Most often, this means that a lost child should find a park worker (with a nametag) and state that they are lost. It can also mean meeting at a specific place as soon as the child is aware that they are no longer with their group or it can mean the child is to remain where he/she is until found).
• Plan to meet with older children at certain times during the day. Be specific and make sure everyone has a watch.
• If possible, wear the same colored clothes so that finding someone is easier in a crowd.
• Teach children to say the full names of their parents so that they can assist park workers if they are lost.
• Do not leave your child unattended at any time. If they are on a "kiddie ride", stay right there with them. Don't wander off to explore something else while they are on the ride.
• Warn children not to talk to older people they do not know (strangers). The only exception is if they are lost.
• Have a form of identification on or with your child. It should not reveal the child's name, but provide information about who to contact in case of an emergency.
• Explain to children that sometimes a ride may stop before it is finished. They are not to exit the ride or try to get out unless told to by someone in authority. Tell them if they are in a sticky situation like this that they need to remember the rules of amusement park safety (that you talked about before going into the park). It makes a huge difference in how children react.
• Be sure your children are prepared before boarding a ride so that they know what to do, how to hold on and what the ride entails. Solid metal lap bars only fit closely against the largest passenger in the car, often leaving young children with room to slide around, so be sure your child is properly restrained and knows what to do when the ride is in motion. Make certain that they understand that while the ride is in motion, they cannot get off, so even if they are really scared, they have to wait until the ride stops and they have permission to get off of the ride.

Amusement Park safety is important and it is something that should be addressed prior to leaving for the amusement park. Take some time to review the items listed above with your family so that you can ensure everyone has an enjoyable time.

Amusement Park Safety: Be careful, sure, but have fun, too!

If you would like to put this amusement park safety to good use, visit Frontier City, Oklahoma City's awesome amusement park.

Or, for another kind of amusement, consider the Oklahoma City Zoo.

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