Amusement Safety Article

[Airtime&Gravity]

Article from www.woai.com

 

http://www.woai.com/mostpopular/story.aspx?content_id=13c1f44a-6275-4bab-ad52-9df900772808

 

Most of us are planning a trip to one of our local amusement parks this summer. Have you ever wondered which rides are safe, and which rides you're more likely to get hurt on? Trouble Shooter Jaie Avila did. He did some digging, so you can make the right choices for your family.

 

You are about to rocket toward Earth on the latest mega-coaster, speed around the track in a go-cart, or plunge down a steep water slide. It isn't until then that it occurs to you: has anyone ever been hurt on this thing?

 

Sarah Perry, a woman who claims she was hurt on a ride, describes how her injury took place. "I hit the pole so hard that the cart flew in the air."

 

That was the last thing on Perry's mind when she got behind the wheel of a go-cart at Malibu Grand Prix during her son's birthday party in 2004.

 

"My foot went to straight to the floor, I was not able to stop," she said, claiming the brakes failed. With no response from the brakes, the next step was inevitable. "There was nowhere to go. I hit the pole going full speed."

 

Following the crash, an ambulance took Perry to a hospital for neck and back injuries.

 

Malibu Grand Prix and all other amusement parks, even the big ones, are required to file a report with the state every time someone is injured on a ride and needs medical treatment beyond first aid.

 

The Trouble Shooters went through those injury reports for the last three years to see who has been following the law.

 

Of the major San Antonio area parks, Schlitterbahn reported the most injuries: A total of 58, from neck and back pain to facial cuts and knee injuries.

 

Schlitterbahn told us it is proud of those numbers because in that time, "2.7 million guests have safely enjoyed the park while less than a fraction of one percent of guests have been involved in any type of reportable incident."

 

We received a similar response from Fiesta Texas, where they reported 18 injuries in three years. One person dislocated a shoulder on the Rattler Roller Coaster while another reported abdominal pain and trouble breathing.

 

Fiesta Texas told us, "We are extremely proud of our safety record...guests who visit us...can be assured that their safety is our top priority."

 

Then there is Sea World, which reported 29 injuries with most of them on the Great White and Steel Eel roller coasters. Several guests complained of bruises to the head, ribs and chest after slamming against the lap bar or other parts of the car. It may come as a surprise, but the state of Texas does not do any amusement park inspections, leaving ride safety up to the parks themselves.

 

Sea World General Manager Dan Decker says, just like at other parks, Sea World's rides are inspected by a maintenance specialist everyday. "Not only does that maintenance person check the ride everyday, but he's the first rider on that ride everyday," said Decker.

 

However, if the parks are in charge of inspections and accident reports, it raises an obvious question: Isn't that a conflict of interest?

 

When asked about it, Decker stated, "Again we report what the state asks us to report, but really...the safety of the park is in the best interest of not only ourselves, but certainly to our guests...Even my kids ride these rides, almost on a weekly basis, as well as, myself."

 

What happens to an amusement park if it fails to report an accident?

 

Remember what happened to Sarah Perry? No report was filed with the state after her go-cart crash in 2004. Malibu Grand Prix finally sent one in last month after the Trouble Shooters began looking into the case.

 

Before that, the park had not reported any injuries since 2001, even though internal documents obtained by the Trouble Shooters show 15 other accidents involving either injuries or brake problems.

 

We wanted to ask Palace Entertainment, which currently owns Malibu, whether those injuries should have been reported to the state, but the company would not agree to an on-camera interview.

 

Sarah Perry believes that is the issue, "That's the problem, nothing is happening to them, and to date, nothing has changed at that go-cart track. They are still allowing the ride to run as it was three years ago when I was injured."

 

In an e-mail, a Palace Entertainment spokesman claimed Perry's accident, and the other crashes we uncovered, were caused by the drivers. Earlier this month though, the company settled a lawsuit filed by Perry.

 

The media always seems to attack amusement parks every year, and there is little chance that the rides listed caused the injuries. Instead, stupidity and just some bodies not being able to handle the ride resulted in the injuries.

[RollerC]

The only thing believable about that Artical is the accidents on Rattler. Everything else is bull. They always want to attack amusement parks and take the small accident and make it out to be the "worst case senerio". I can proudly say that my WIldwood Park in RCT2 only had 4 accidents and that was when the Wildmous Valleyed and was rear ended resulting in a minor explosion.

[bulldogmom]

You're right, articles like these are disgusting. These are written by people who go around looking to stir up trouble and create incidents where there is no evidence of any wrongdoing/malfeasance. If you count everybody who has ever been "hurt" on an amusement ride, it would probably be a high number- considering your definition of "hurt". The first time I rode Raptor I banged my head on the restraint and had a headache. Did I "report" this? Did I sue CP or B&M? Call the newspaper? Of course not. When you engage in any type of activity, you run the risk of some kind of discomfort. You have to look at things in perspective. Most "accidents" are the result of carelessness, stupidity, or clumsiness (most of mine are the result of clumsiness). MOst accidents occur in the home because, obviously, this where people spend most of their time. All this kind of "reporting" does is encourage people to go around filing lawsuits about every little thing, as though it weren't a big enough problem already.

[hemmy]

That makes me sick.

 

OK what the hell, I clicked the link and one of the problems was dizzyness...WOW!

 

I get dizzy if I stand up too fast, this is ridiculous.

[Vekoma Fan Boy]

These articles are BS. The way I see it if you get on a roller coaster you accept the risk of anything happening, even a piece of track disappearing into the twilight zone. I mean yes, if I was on raptor and the wheel assemblies fell off and I plummeted 160 ft and somehow survived, yeah, I would sue CP and/or B&M. But only for the cost of my medical bill and/or any rehabilitation. Not some unreasonable amount of money for getting scared and Sh1tting myself. [Carlos Mencia voice] Oh, i want $25,000,000 for getting a-scared while falling [/Carlos Mencia voice] No I would want (lets say over the entire process of healing I generated a $100,000 bill, I would ask for $100,000 dollars so I can live life normally without worry. Call me crazy but whatever. I may be a little tempted to milk it though....

[Carnage]

I have to admit I laughed at this injury:

 

Face impact with ride

 

Does that make me a bad person?

[snuggles]

This article is proof positive women can't drive.

[RollerC]

These articles are BS. The way I see it if you get on a roller coaster you accept the risk of anything happening, even a piece of track disappearing into the twilight zone. I mean yes, if I was on raptor and the wheel assemblies fell off and I plummeted 160 ft and somehow survived, yeah, I would sue CP and/or B&M. But only for the cost of my medical bill and/or any rehabilitation. Not some unreasonable amount of money for getting scared and Sh1tting myself. [Carlos Mencia voice] Oh, i want $25,000,000 for getting a-scared while falling [/Carlos Mencia voice] No I would want (lets say over the entire process of healing I generated a $100,000 bill, I would ask for $100,000 dollars so I can live life normally without worry. Call me crazy but whatever. I may be a little tempted to milk it though....

I'm going to disagree with you. You shouldn't have to accept any risk when riding a coaster.

[Scaparri]

Makes me wonder how these people travel from place to place. If they are this concerned about amusement parks, they must crap their britches anytime they step foot in a car.

[Guest]

All I have to say is Foamy is so right about this:

 

WARNING SOME FOUL LANGUAGE USED....

 

http://www.illwillpress.com/unam2.html

[jamesdillaman]

I like the line about "Conflict of interest" as if the parks don't care if their rides hurt people, because it would definitely tarnish the most precious thing they have: their reputation. That's just bad business. Even if they didn't care about the people, which I'm sure they do, they have the bottom line in mind at least, and it is in their best interest to keep their rides as safe as possible. I have a strong dislike for sensationalist journalism, and this is a prime example. Does anyone else find it strange that thei figures for how many people were hurt aren't last year, or even the last couple years, but 3 whole years? You know why? Because the larger numbers make it seem like a larger problem than if they said 5 people out of hundreds of thousands were hurt at SFFT last year. The reporter wanted all the statistics to be in double digits at least. Let me be the first to cry: LAME.

 

-James Dillaman

[XII]

How does anyone live anymore?

If they make this big a deal out of going to an amusement park, how do these people live? Theres a much bigger chance of getting in a car accident driving, a bigger chance getting hit by a car as a pedestrian and even a bigger chance of dying eating from choking. There are much easier ways for you to die doing everyday things that you never even worry about. People just don't want to realize they face the worst dangers everyday driving, so they write this stuff to make amusement parks look bad.

^^That cartoon is definetly right about amusement park saftey. People shouldn't suffer because of one stupid person.

[Alpenguy]

I just think it's funny how examples of these things are always people with minor or pre-existing conditions who are hungry for money. Did I say money? I meant attention. (money)

 

 

It's never major parks either, yet somehow the "Jim-Bob's Funhouse Happyslide" somehow directly connects to the newest hypercoaster 8 states away.

[swampfox]

I think it's time the world just had a big smack across the backside, and was told it could have no more TV for a year. The world has just become one big spoiled brat.

[cycamps]

Those kind of articles drive me crazy, as it warps the GP's minds. After the Superman incident at SFKK, one of my parent's friends said that all of the rides at SFGAm are unsafe just because of that accident. I fought my case for 30 minutes before I could get a little sense into her.

[rollerboy]

I have to do a controversial issue for my World Issue's course work, so being a coaster fanatic I chose this topic. My teacher said that I am not aloud to do this as its not controversial enough. I may just have to show her this thread .

 

Back on topic. I get nervous on some coasters, not because I think there unsafe; just because, well I don't know really. LOL. After all you more likely to get injured driving to a theme park than when your actually there.

[Simon Baynham]

Hi TPR Members

 

Perhaps you should all read this book!

(Taken from: www.rollercoastermedialibrary.com)

 

[bOOK 245I] JEFFREY P. STONEKING: THEME PARK SAFETY FAILURE$. [2008] (15x23cm - 102 Pages). From design flaws to cover-ups when deadly accidents occur, the squeaky-clean image of theme parks is plagued with circumstances park officials and ride manufacturers prefer the public not to be informed of. This book sheds a glaring beacon on issues and incidents that riders and attendees should be made fully aware of - that their lives are at an even greater risk than ever before. Since theme parks are constantly competing against one another with higher, bigger, and faster installations, safety issues are being totally disregarded with virtually no time for error. Warning: ride - and read at your own risk, as thrill rides are becoming kill rides. Chapter Points: Twist and Shout; Never!; Splat; Mousetrap; Identified Flying Objects; It Shouldn’t Do That!; What Goes Up. . .; Riff Raft; It Happens In 3’s; The “Marvellous” Son of Beast; Too High, Too Fast, Too Soon; A Cursed Name; A Ticket to Die.

 

Simon Baynham

[jamesdillaman]

^ Is this a real member or just spam? Why should I read this book?

[Simon Baynham]

^ Is this a real member or just spam? Why should I read this book?

 

 

^Doesn't the write-up sound a tad sensationalist to you? I just thought I'd share it with TPR members so that they might form their own opinions. Nothing more...

 

Simon

[Bolliger&Mabillard]

^I've come across this book before and I had no intent of reading it. I've worked in the rides department for two separate parks (see signature) and first hand seeing the good with the bad, the light with the heavy and the black with the white. I have very seldom seen a rider injury or even employee injuries for that matter caused by the rides themselves. Do people get hurt on rides? I'd be lying if I said no, but "hurt" is a subjective term. Who decides what hurt is? Is there a cut-off point between "you can walk it off" and "oh my God! This lady needs a doctor!" According to many douchebag journalists and bitter ex-employees who got fired for selling used flash passes, no. To everyone else, we'd ask why a go-cart in a family fun center in Malibu has anything to do with three major world know theme park comapnies three states over. Why did the article not list any injuries specifically? As for the "conflict of interest", no one's coming to your park if they think they're going to die there. No one comes, you don't make any money. Seeing how the number one rule of running a business is to turn a profit, I'm going to go on a limb and say that Parks would protect their investments by making them safe, reliable, and most importantly profitable. A guest that's alive and not on a stretcher is a guest that can still reach their wallet. It's jackasses like the one who writes articles like this, douchebags who write books like this, and dumb guest who try to sue because they pinched their finger between a seatbelt on their restraints that need to be fired out of cannon directly into the sun. They will not be missed and frivilous lawsuits would be no more.

[ginzo]

Since theme parks are constantly competing against one another with higher, bigger, and faster installations, safety issues are being totally disregarded with virtually no time for error.

 

Wow. Wrong.

 

If anything, safety is becoming more of a concern thanks to the increasingly predatory legal environment. This is illustrated by the excessive restraints you see nowadays when compared to buzz bars, no seat belts, and no center dividers many coasters featured when I started riding them.

[TheRapidsNerd]

*sigh* (shakes head in dissapointment) No horse sense. (the good sense given the common horse).

[Tmcdllr]

Maybe these 'trouble shooters' Dee-Dee-Dees should be looking into why this kind of stuff gets so blown out of proportion and is so full of crap and they should also be pointing out you can't protect against stupidity. As long as people continue to be stupid and do stupid things, (stupid) people will get hurt.... or write articles like this.

[Guest]

I was very curious how they can keep building crazier coasters in the current insane legal environment. I am glad they keep them coming. BTW I recently went to SFMM and road on Scream and hit my head/arms on a tree branch/leaves thats sticking out. I bet I actually got hurt worse than most of these clowns. But was it a big deal? No.

 

The back car in Goliath when I went on it all felt like we were going to black out. I have never heard that before, but that would have been cool to have a whole car passed out heading back in. haha.

 

BTW I am 6'4 and can touch a lot of things on rollercoasters and SFMM is the only park I can put my hands up on most rides without getting my hands chopped off. Is this common sense to people? maybe not?

[kenshinmac]

Most of the time parks track injuries that require external attention. This can be as simple as someone who ends up with heat stroke and needs significant fluids or it can be serious injuries(usually things that are dangerous without attention). In any case it is typically a sign of how well setup a park is to handle the normal operation.

 

The one thing that is pretty clear to me is that consistently waterparks are far more injury prone. Heck I am fairly injury prone at waterparks. I have cut my foot several times at waterparks and got a nice abrasion at WaterWorld in Denver on my last trip. (Thankfully never any more than First Aid booth worthy)

 

I guess all I am saying is don't dismiss the numbers. It is a good thing to know but that said it really shouldn't worry anyone. Similarly people really need to pay attention to park instructions. I honestly don't worry too much about putting up my hands on most rides but I will always err on the side of caution.

 

(Oh and the original article seems to be down now)