Accidents at amusement parks are trending higher

[rlentless]

http://www.marketwatch.com/story/heres-a-thrill-ride-your-roller-coaster-may-not-have-been-inspected-2014-07-11

I always wonder on trends, as reported in this article, really reflect if rides are causing 13k more injuries from 10 years ago. Or, if just more injuries are being reported or tracked. Perhaps new standards forcing parks to report more than they use to. Maybe just because more people attend Amusement parks than ever before. Maybe more people not abiding by park rules.

Maybe a combination of all but lately seems to be some effort to make the industry seem not safe. Not saying I know the answers but just speculating. I always feel safe when I attend parks like Kings Island or Cedar Point. Not such a "warm and fuzzy" feeling at County Fairs or Carnivals.

[The Interpreter]

There are OABA members who post here, including industry consultants. Fairs and carnivals have amazing safety records. Not as stellar as fixed site parks, but still far safer than, say, the inflatable rental business.

[Dalefan]

Each state has laws that are set in place for themeparks to go by. The laws also have to be followed in order for the workers and guests to be safe. Cedar Fair I believe has the safest parks around due to the training, and how they keep rides up and such. A lot of the guests expect a themepark to keep them safe. That is true to a point. The guests have to make sure they obey the ride rules to keep themselves safe too by not standing up, putting arms or legs in areas where they shouldn't or whipping out cell phones or cameras while on a ride. Those are the major things a ride op will tell you not to do. OSHA plays a big part in themepark safety as well. When it comes to accidents at a themepark, 4 things can be a factor. The themepark itself, the guest, mother nature or the ride breaks something. I have seen all of those a factor in a themepark accident somewhere.

[PKIVortex]

The cell phone and loose article situation needs addressed at Kings Island. I do not feel its safe for a guest to be carrying loose articles onto the rides. I got wet from someone who had their drink bottle on Racer yesterday. I hate to say it but someone will get hit by a loose article sooner or later I hate to say it.

[Vortex]

The reason your hearing more about it is the use of cell phones. What I do think is odd or it just might be Disney they make you bring you stuff on the ride. Now they do have a spot to put your stuff like a bag.

[CoasterOhio]

Not only that, It's such a rare occurrence that a big accident happens at an amusement park, that when it happens. the world will hear about it within the hour, and then the media goes off saying false 'facts' about amusement park deaths, and accidents. Getting people frightened.

[shark6495]

Don't confuse a fact with a developing story.

If I call WLWT this afternoon to report that I saw a building on fire. Depending on what other news is happening that day, they station will report it and send out a crew. These things can be verified by police scanners and phone calls.

They are not false facts.


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[The Interpreter]

False facts.

Oxymoron..,

Not unlike true facts. There are other kinds?

[Magenta Lizard]

I was taught in middle school that a fact was an item of information capable of being proven to be true or false. My name is John Jacob Jingleheimer Schmidt, as a fact (according to that definition). It's also untrue.

I don't know how widespread that definition is used. For all I know, it is isolated to that particular teacher.

[The Interpreter]

I was taught one could assume all facts in evidence. That being the case, only true data (and not opinions) could be FACTual.

[shark6495]

Yea I was taught that a fact is something that can be verified, usually with data.

If it's false, it's not a fact.

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[TTD-120-420]

Fun fact: Most of the injuries in theme parks happen on Thursdays.

[The Interpreter]

Well, most would mean the majority, 51%.

I believe you mean that a disproportionate number of injuries in theme parks happen on Thursdays. I suspect that also takes into account open and closed days. Many parks aren't even open most Thursdays.

[TTD-120-420]

You would be correct. When Environmental Health and Safety higher ups talked at intern meeting they had nice, fancy graphs displaying Thursday as the most likely day to be injured at a theme park.