Increase in Amusement Park Injuries Suffered by Children

When the school year ends, many families head to amusement parks across the State of Washington for some fun family time. While roller coaster rides can be thrilling, they come with surprising risks that most parents are unaware of. Now, a new study conducted by researchers in the Center for Injury Research and Policy of the Research Institute at Nationwide Children’s Hospital has shed some light on this subject and the results were startling. Researchers examined injuries to children who participated in amusement park rides, rides at fairs and festivals, and rides at local malls and stores. The results showed that from 1990 to 2010, 92,885 children were treated in emergency rooms across the United States for amusement ride related injuries. This averages about 4,423 injuries a year—most of which occur in the warm summer months May through September. The study found that head and neck injuries were the most common, followed by arms, face, and legs. While the majority of these injuries were mild soft tissue injuries, serious injuries that required hospitalization occurred once every three days on average. The majority of these injuries were the result of a fall or the result of a body party hitting a ride while riding. While the majority of these injuries occurred on amusement park rides, mall rides accounted for a surprising number of head and neck injuries. Almost ¾ of all mall ride injuries were the result of a child falling off or onto the ride itself. These rides are almost always placed on hard surfaces, which only increase the risk of serious injury. Concussions and other closed head injuries accounted for the majority of mall ride injuries.

“Injuries from smaller amusement rides located in malls, stores, restaurants and arcades are typically given less attention by legal and public health professionals than injuries from larger amusement park rides, yet our study showed that in the U.S. a child is treated in an emergency department, on average, every day for an injury from an amusement ride located in a mall, store, restaurant or arcade. We need to raise awareness of this issue and determine the best way to prevent injuries from these types of rides.” — Dr. Smith, professor of pediatrics at The Ohio State University College of Medicine

Seattle Personal Injury Lawyers You Can Rely On

In the summer, childhood accidents are unfortunately very common. If your child is injured through the negligence of another person or company, it is important to seek legal help immediately. At Phillips Law Firm, we have successfully represented child accident victims in Seattle, Bellevue, Everett, Tacoma, and throughout the State of Washington. Call us today for a free case evaluation at 1-800-708-6000.

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