Amusement park rides are typically safe but the speed, force and thrill factors do put some adults and kids at risk for injuries - some mild, musculoskeletal injuries, and some serious, such as heart attacks and strokes. The news of a boy's death last month at Disney's Rockin' Roller Coaster is a wake-up call to all of us.
The best rule of thumb is to not ride anything you are unsure of and to follow the safety rules posted. People with motion sickness, who get nervous easily, are scarred of heights or speed should likely avoid high speed and drop rides. And, don't ride right after eating or if you are feeling ill. For children, make sure they make the height and weight requirements.
Crowd control and keeping tabs of your family is the other big issue. Good Morning America reported a couple days ago about new technology that can allow you to track your kids. Many of these, such as SafeTZone, are offerred at many theme parks - they are small watch-like devices that every member of the family wears and can be used to track each other down. Other excellent ways to keep tabs are two-way radios that you can get just about everywhere. Cell phones are an option but reception in parks can be a challenge. Regardless of how high-tech you want to go, regular rendevous points and being sure kids know what to do if they get lost are essential to keeping everyone found by the end of the day.
Even if you avoid a few rides here and there, theme parks are still great summer fun. Although, I have to admit I'm not a big ride fan but can't resist those huge furry characters. Hard to have a bad day after a hug by Goofy or Stitch.Image Source:
Walkie-Talkies: Best Buy web site
Character Dining: Walt Disney World web site
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