News this week has raised questions about amusement park safety.
But the chance of being seriously injured on a fixed-site ride at a U.S. amusement park is 1 in 16 million, according to the International Association of Amusement Parks and Attractions.
Three incidents happened this week — one fatal — where children were hurt from amusement park rides.
The chance of being seriously injured on a fixed-site ride at a U.S. amusement park is 1 in 16 million, according to the International Association of Amusement Parks and Attractions.
IAAPA Media Relations Manager Cameron Jacobs wrote in an email to E.W. Scripps that rides at amusement parks are safe and injuries are rare.
“One injury is one too many in our industry,” Jacobs wrote. “Delivering the highest levels of safety is fundamental to our industry’s existence and is a part of everything we do.
“We are saddened by the news of the last few days and our thoughts are with those affected. While the timing is coincidental and investigations are on-going, these appear to be unrelated events, occurring at different facilities on different types of attractions. Safety is a consideration in every aspect of our operations including how our members design, manufacture, maintain, inspect, and operate our attractions.”
The three incidents included:
- A 10-year old boy died on a water ride at Schlitterbahn in Kansas City.
- A child was injured falling off a roller coaster at Idlewild & SoakZone in Pennsylvania.
- Three children fell from a Ferris wheel and were injured at the Greene County Fair in Greenville, Tenn.
But the odds of something of this nature happening is low, Jacobs wrote.
“The chance of being seriously injured on a ride at a U.S. amusement park is 1 in 16 million,” Jacobs wrote. “To put that in perspective, you are more likely being struck by lightning, than you are to be injured while riding an attraction at the park.”
