The Most Common Types of Amusement Park Injuries
Though amusement parks present all types of risks of injury, the ones most common, according to the CPSC report, were:- Joint, neck, back or head injuries due to centrifugal force or to being spun around on different types of rides.
- Traumatic brain injury from the pressure of the brain against the skull in rides that inflict significant G-force or jolt back and forth or up and down.
- Stroke from injury to ligaments in the neck.
- Cerebral aneurysms (blood clots) from roller coasters or high-speed rides.
- Broken bones, cuts, bruises from careening off cars or safety restraints.
- Injuries caused from a fall from a ride.
- Drownings in water rides.
The Most Frequent Causes of Amusement Park Accidents
The CPSC study cited four primary causes of injury on amusement park rides:- Operator error — In many instances, the ride operator was either inexperienced, poorly trained, or simply acted negligently or carelessly in either stopping a ride, or ensuring that proper restraints were in place.
- Mechanical problems — The CSPC noted instances where cars detached from a ride while in motion, restraints or bars came undone or loose during a ride, or a ride experienced a structural breakdown.
- Passenger error or negligence — The study also found that many accidents were caused by passengers who failed to follow instructions. This included people who stood up during a ride, disconnected safety mechanisms or intentionally rocked a car during a ride.
- The nature of the ride — On rides that spin at high velocities or speeds, certain people can experience dizziness, loss of consciousness, headaches, and even internal bleeding, such as cerebral or retinal hemorrhaging.