Water Parks and 5 Things You Didn't Know!
There are 1,300 water parks in the United States, and 85 million people visit them each year.
As a parent, it's important to know what to look for if you are planning a trip to an indoor
or outdoor water park.
Here is some information and reminders from the American Academy of Pediatrics to
help keep your family safe and healthy.
1. Know the rules.
Water slides are the number one cause of injuries at water parks. So, follow ride directions.
Rules like "feet first" are there for a reason―to keep riders safe.
In 2015, 4,200 people visited hospitals for water park-related injuries with the most common being scrapes, cuts, broken bones, concussions, and spinal injuries. |
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Always pay attention to the size and weight restrictions on water park rides. Riders who are
too small can be thrown from the ride. Riders that exceed the maximums can get stuck in
chutes or build up excessive speed and exit the ride too fast. Also, watch for the maximum
number of riders allowed. If signs say limited to two riders per ride, don't pile four on
trying to break a record. Make sure your children understand the need to follow the rules.
2. Know your swimmer.
National data shows fatal and nonfatal drownings have occurred at U.S. water parks.
It can happen to anyone.
Know the risks and take steps to prevent a drowning tragedy.
What water park feature carries the biggest drowning risk?The answer: wave pools. Wave pools can be dangerous for smaller children or weak swimmers and can be chaotic with large numbers of people bobbing in the water. This can also make it very difficult to spot a swimmer in trouble, who could look like just another swimmer enjoying the waves. Close parental supervision is all the more important. Parents, stay within arm's reach of young or weak swimmers. Keep your eyes on your children, and strongly consider putting your swimmer in a life jacket. |
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3. Know what's in the water.
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), most people have
about 0.14 grams of feces on their bottoms that can rinse off and contaminate water.
The CDC also reports that in one year, 58% of public pools tested positive for E. coli―
a marker of fecal contamination. Yuck! Crypto (short for Cryptosporidium) has a
high tolerance to chlorine that enables this parasite to survive for long periods in
chlorinated
swimming pool water. Both E. coli and Crypto can make swimmers very ill, sometimes
leading to hospitalization.
What parents can do to prevent water-borne illnesses:
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4. Know who is watching—and who's not.
Did you know that the federal government does not monitor or regulate fixed-site
amusement parks―many of which contain water parks? It's unfortunately true! In
1980, Congress handed over control of these parks to state and local governments. Federal s
afety officials are not allowed to address safety problems at these parks, so a patchwork of
local and state authorities bear the responsibility of safety oversight for amusement
park rides. This means there is no consistent standard of regulation.
So, what does this mean? Should parents be worried?Each state decides what level of regulation and monitoring they want to assume. Some states are strict, but other states elect for minimum involvement, making some parks self-regulated. In fact, pop-up carnivals have more government regulation than fixed-site amusement parks! The AAP suggests looking into how the water park of your choice is monitored and regulated. SaferParks.org has a list of how amusement parks are regulated by each state. There is also a chart showing how injuries are to be reported and whether there are public records of reported injuries. |
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5. Think outside the pool.
So now that you've considered swim rules, swimmer safety, and health issues, there are
a few more general tips that can help ensure your day at the park remains positive.
As always, it's important to bring and use sunscreen if you will be outdoors. You should also
bring water to keep everyone hydrated.
Here are a few more ideas to keep everyone safe and happy:
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Additional Information:
- Last Updated
- 6/4/2019
- Source
- American Academy of Pediatrics (Copyright © 2019)