4,500 Kids Hurt on Amusement Rides Annually in U.S.

We all remember the day we rode on our first Ferris wheel or rollercoaster; the thrill we felt is something we will always remember. However, nowadays the rides at amusement parks are much more than they used to be; even looking back just ten years. Today there are excessive loops, long periods where the ride is upside down, super speeds and extreme jolting; all of which our children today find exhilarating. It is exciting, that is, until someone gets hurt. Studies show every year at least 4,000 children are hurt on these alleged "amusement" rides in America. Reports show from the year of 1990 to 2010 there have been a total of 93,000 child injuries less than 18 years of age, which required emergency medical care due to an amusement ride incident. Annually amounting to about 4,500 child injuries related to these rides.

What is so shocking is the fact a large majority of these injuries take place during the summer months of May through September. This narrows down the injuries even more because of the summer flux of kids at the parks; meaning there are about 20 kids injured every day during the summer amusement park seasons. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the number of serious injuries is minimal, as very few individuals treated in the emergency room will actually require hospitalization or further observation; though freak accidents do occur. The CDC reports the average injuries include:

• Soft Tissue Damage—29%
• Strains and Sprains—21%
• Cuts—20%
• Broken Bones—10%

During these summer months, reports show while the hospitalization rate is very small, there are still about one every three days or so in the U.S. The study which was published in Clinical Pediatrics claims that younger children are the most susceptible to injuries at an amusement part. A large number of injuries to small children are due to falling incidents or a body parts being hit on a ride, either rat an amusement park, carnival/fair, or other venues. The Center for Injury Research and Policy shares that they are seeking to fight for a nationwide policy regarding amusement rides in order to prevent this many incidents occurring to children yearly. They note that many ride injuries occur where there are improper restraints for children causing them to fall out.

In order to practice safety for your children, and prevent an injury from occurring make sure that your children follow all of the regulations before getting on a ride (height, age, weight, etc.) and make sure there is secure seating and safety equipment used each time. In the event your child is injured due to a ride defect or improper restrictions provided for your child, contact a trusted Oakland personal injury lawyer at Clancy & Diaz, LLP today!