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.

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.

​What parents can do to prevent water-borne illnesses:

• Teach your child never to drink pool water. Provide clean drinking water

• if children are thirsty.

• Take your child for bathroom breaks about once an hour.

• Check swim diapers every 30-60 minutes.

• Avoid sitting on water jets.

• If your child is ill―especially with diarrhea―do not visit the water park.

• Shower before swimming, particularly if your child has been playing in other areas

• of the water park such as sandboxes, can help rinse bacteria from the skin

• and reduce contamination.

• Shower again before heading home. Doing this removes chlorine from the skin,

• helping to prevent skin irritation.

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.

​Here are a few more ideas to keep everyone safe and happy:

• Whether it's an indoor or outdoor park, water shoes can be a good investment.

• Pool deck surfaces can get slippery from a mix of water and sunscreen. Water shoes

• can give little feet extra traction and protect them from surfaces that can be rough

• such as pool bottoms.

• Schedule in activity breaks throughout the day. Kids burn about 288 calories an

• hour playing in the pool. That kind of activity level can tire young swimmers, so it's

• important to exit the water periodically and rest. This is a good time to recharge in the

• shade with a snack and a bathroom break.

• Walk, don't run. Pool decks are slippery, and parks can get crowded.

• Get a map of the park and identify a meeting spot in case your family gets separated.

• Children and others who lack strong swim skills should also wear life jackets

• when at a pool or water park. Some parks require swimmers to wear these, and staff c

• an help you ensure the device is the right size and fitted correctly for your child. Even

• when they wear life jackets, young children and those who cannot swim well need an

• adult who can swim within arm's reach providing touch supervision.

• Remember that lifeguards are just one layer of prevention against drowning. 

• Close, attentive, capable supervision when your child is in or around water is essential.

•  Even when they wear life jackets, young children and those who cannot swim well need

• an adult who can swim within arm’s reach providing touch supervision.