Thrill rides can be both exciting and safe if certain practices are followed

Whether it’s flying through the air or spinning in circles – there’s something about a summer day at an amusement park that draws people of all ages. Safe Kids Utah believes that staying safe and having fun can and should go hand in hand.

Parents need to use their own judgment. Posted age and height requirements are minimal guidelines. Following the rules is also important. If a ride operator tells you to keep your hands and feet inside the car, hold the handrail or remain seated, there’s a good reason for doing that – it helps make the ride safer.

Every year, an estimated 8,000 children suffer injuries from amusement park or carnival-type rides that require treatment in an emergency room. These injuries involve fixed rides, mobile rides, inflatables and other types of rides at amusement parks, festivals, traveling carnivals and other locations.

Portable carnival rides are subject to safety regulations enforced by the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission. Amusement park rides at a fixed location are not subject to federal safety standards. Parents and caregivers need to decide whether their children are capable of sitting properly on a ride and following the operator’s instructions.

Parents can follow these tips to help keep amusement park and carnival rides safer for children of all ages:

Ÿ         Role-model proper safety behavior. Children are more likely to follow safety rules when they see their parents doing so.

Ÿ         Supervise your child getting on and off a ride. Make sure the child understands all announcements and posted rules. Also, parents should practice active supervision. Don’t allow older children to supervise younger children on rides.

Ÿ         Always use the safety equipment provided. Safety belts, lap bars, chains, handrails and other safety features are there for a reason.

Ÿ         Be careful when getting off a moving ride. Wait until the ride comes to a complete stop. Also, if a ride stops due to a mechanical problem or safety concern, stay seated and wait for instructions.

Ÿ         Don’t let children ride if they’re too tired or scared to comply with safety procedures. On some rides, it’s important to stay upright and face forward. Don’t pressure kids to go on a ride they’re afraid of, as they’re more likely to sit incorrectly or even try to get off.

Ÿ         Note the limitations of safety devices. Lap bars and chains are not physical restraints — their main function is to remind the occupant to stay seated. If a small child sits next to a large adult, a lap bar might not offer the child much protection.

Ÿ         Trust your instincts. If a ride looks like it is poorly maintained or an operator seems to be inattentive or unfit, don’t let your children ride. As in any industry, while most operators pay close attention to safety, there are exceptions.

To find out about the law in Utah, please visit: http://www.saferparks.org/regulation/state.

Fireworks Injure 2,600 Kids Each Summer

The Fourth of July and Pioneer Day are a time for celebration across Utah – fireworks are a crowd favorite each year.  Whether at a professional show or in the backyard, fireworks can be fun to watch – but they can also be very dangerous.

In 2007, an estimated 2,600 children ages 14 and under were treated in U.S. emergency rooms for injuries involving fireworks during the fireworks season, which runs from the middle of June until the middle of July. According to the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission, approximately 40 percent of the people injured by fireworks were under the age of 15.

“Don’t ever let kids play with fireworks, period,” says Christi Fisher, Safe Kids Utah Director. “They’re intended for use by adults in open spaces and children should watch from a safe distance with plenty of adult supervision to make sure they don’t get too close.”

As with any activity involving hazardous equipment, keep all children under active supervision at all times and give them your undivided attention. “The safest way to enjoy fireworks is to watch them at a community event where professionals handle them,” says Fisher.

Safe Kids Utah recommends these precautions for adults using fireworks:

Ÿ         Light fireworks only on smooth, flat surfaces, and aim them away from spectators, buildings, dry leaves, and flammable materials.

Ÿ         Do not try to relight fireworks that malfunction.

Ÿ         Do not carry fireworks in your pocket or hold them close to your face.

Ÿ         Visit www.recalls.gov to make sure the pyrotechnic devices you are using are not subject to any safety recalls.

Ÿ         Do not modify fireworks or use homemade fireworks.

Ÿ         Keep a phone handy, and know first aid for burns. Also, keep a fire extinguisher handy and know how to use it.

Fireworks, including sparklers and flares, can cause serious burns as well as blast injuries that can permanently impair vision and hearing. “Teach your children how to call 911 in an emergency.  Also teach them what to do if their clothing catches on fire – ‘stop, drop and roll,’” adds Fisher.

Many pyrotechnic devices are illegal in Utah. Where permitted by law, fireworks should be handled and used in strict accordance with the manufacturer’s instructions and all warning labels.

For more information about fireworks safety and burn prevention, contact 801.538.6852 or visit www.utahsafekids.com.

Safe Kids Utah works to prevent accidental childhood injury, the leading killer of children 14 and under. Safe Kids Utah is a member of Safe Kids Worldwide, a global network of organizations dedicated to preventing accidental injury. Safe Kids Utah was founded in 1995 and is led by the Utah Department of Health.

Safe Kids Utah warns parents about trampolines used at home

 If you asked a child what superpower they would like to have, one answer is often the chance to fly. Trampolines attract many kids in their ability to give them the chance to float through the air, even if just for just a second.  However, a trampoline is not a toy and can be incredibly dangerous.

“While most trampoline injuries are muscle injuries or broken legs, not fatalities, we also see serious head and neck injuries,” says Christi Fisher, Safe Kids Utah coordinator. “A concussion or an upper spine injury can be devastating to a child.”

In 2004, approximately 93,000 children ages 14 and under were treated in U.S. emergency rooms for trampoline-related injuries — up from nearly 83,400 in 1996. More than 90 percent of these injuries happened on home trampolines, and Safe Kids Utah joins the American Academy of Pediatrics in recommending that children do not use trampolines at home.

Based on the AAP’s guidelines, Safe Kids Utah recommends that trampolines be used only as part of a supervised athletic training program such as competitive gymnastics, and not at home, at school or on playgrounds. In addition, the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission recommends that no children under 6 years old use a full-size trampoline. Safe Kids Utah supports both recommendations.

Safe Kids Utah cautions parents and caregivers to look for these features in a supervised trampoline program:

• Make sure there is only one person on the trampoline at a time.
• The frame, springs and floor around the trampoline are appropriately padded and the equipment is inspected frequently.
• Trained spotters are always used and a safety harness or spotting belt is available. Ideally, the trampoline is in a pit so its surface is closer to the ground.
• There is no ladder near the trampoline, where it could be used by unsupervised children to gain access. The trampoline should not be accessible to children when not in use and there is no active adult supervision.
• Jumpers do not attempt stunts or skills beyond their training and demonstrated ability.

“Remember, these guidelines are for organized training programs led by qualified trainers with proper safety measures. A trampoline is not a toy and kids should not have access to one at home,” says Fisher.

Although many trampoline injuries involve aerial stunts, falling onto the ground or floor, or landing on the springs or frame, more than half of trampoline injuries involve colliding with another jumper. “As you add more jumpers on a trampoline, the risk of injury to the participants increases,” says Fisher. “Even trampoline manufacturers say there shouldn’t be more than one person on the trampoline at a time.”