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Water Parks. Are they safe?

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Ian

Ian

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In the past few years, water parks at theme parks, especially in America, have been a common addition.

Whilst doing some research and updates for the CF accidents page, I couldn't help but notice that there have been two deaths and 49 recorded injuries at water parks around the world.

I appreciate in the grand scheme of things when you consider how many people use these water parks, the risk of having an accident is minuscule.

However, without wanting to sound Sun-sensationalist, I find two deaths and 49 injuries this year alone quite alarming. (Two deaths last year.)

These injuries have happened though water contamination, slipping over and harming from water park equipment.

Obviously a water park has to have a pretty good health and safety ethos, supply lifeguards and all of that stuff so these accidents shouldn't really happen.

Aside from accidents, there is the worry about perverts, too. Although there are no reported incidents, surely that could be a factor too? These places usually have CCTV...who has access to these images of images of children in swimming costumes? Are they properly vetted by authorities?

Are water parks a safe environment? And is it necessarily the parks responsibility to ensure everybody is safe at all times?
 
Yes they are safe if the rules are followed. I remember that story where about 30 teenagers went in a chain that was designed for one person at a time. The slide then gave way and half of them fell 40 feet and either died or were severely injured. Just like parks waterparks have rules as well. But seeing as your involving yourself with each ride more than you do on a coaster it's more important that you do everything you can to stay safe.

It's not the parks responsibility if someone is injured as they have backed them self up legally with all the signs and making guests aware of the dangers if you misbehave. But it is up to them to make sure that it is dealt with responsibly and that all the right precautions are taken.
So yes. Waterparks are extremely safe but it's just those idiots who break the rules put there for their own safety.
 
Waterparks are as safe as you want them to be. If you know that water makes plain surfaces slippery, you are less likely to make yourself fall. If you know that you can't swim as good, you are less likely to jump in and drown in the deepest pool.

Of course, water is not an environment very suitable for humans, but if you feel safe in the water, and are cautious (sp?), you won't get damaged as easily. Slides are not meant to be rushed down very fast either, they are not built for the fastest possible speed.

As for perverts, it's normally just to tell the staff, they can contact the police, and that guy can't set a toe in that waterpark again. In extreme cases, he may risk lawsuits and prison as well (I count America as an extreme case). And a last-resort way of defense: Perverts are usually men, and they are very vulnerable while wearing swimshorts.
 
I don't think they are safe. It's far too easy to slip and seriously hurt yourself, they are overcrowded... And i can't remember the last time I went to one and didn't get bruised.

I hate the things.
 
I followed all the rules, was a good boy and still managed to get flipped out of the rubber ring thing because of the speed of the water slide. I cracked my head on the concrete floor of a pool and got concussion, losing two days of my holiday.

Ive never enjoyed a waterpark since...
 
No they are not. I went to a waterpark in Crete, Greece about 7 years ago. It was one of them black hole slides where its coverd up and you are in a ring.
Therefore, when the next rider is ready to go, the lifegaurd at the top cant see weather it is clear for them to go. When i had reached the bottom, i had a.. no disrespect, but quite a large man follow immediatly after and i was beneth the water for a good cpl of seconds and i was struglling to breath. I havnt been to a waterpark since.
Yes okay, the slippery floor signs are at your own risk as you shouldnt run around, but someone can easily be drowned, weather its accidental or diliberate.
 
I dont think they are safe either, I never leave them without a cut or a bruise. In Orlando I even burnt my feet at the floor got so hot.

There was one in the UK near Enfield that got shut down as someone died going down the Black Hole shoot, they banged their head.

There also used to be one in Richmand and Harrlow but these got shut down as idiots where putting sharpe things in the slides on their way down and the next person would get cut.
 
From my experience, they are perfectly safe.

Follow the rules, don't be stupid, and you'll be just fine.
 
I think that they're essentially the same as amusement parks, really. I mean, there have been multiple deaths and injuries this year at parks, and same goes for waterparks; they're both not one hundred percent safe, but they're pretty safe when you take into account the amount of visitors. Also, if you follow the rules, chances are you're going to be safer than if you're a dunce and decide to do something stupid. Yes, accidents happen, but not very often.

So overall I'd say they're about the same, safety-wise, as amusement parks.
 
Whilst doing some research and updates for the CF accidents page, I couldn't help but notice that there have been two deaths and 49 recorded injuries at water parks around the world.
Click to expand...
But how does this rate compare with normal swim centers and public pools?
I think you can negate issues like slipping and water contamination from the issue, as they can happen anywhere.

So that leaves the attractions themselves, yeah, they're safe, perhaps slightly less so than many mechanical rides because of the fact you are in control, but if you follow instructions you are fine, I've never had any problems, though I think I might have a slightly biased perspective. Given Australia is a nation of swimmers, and are generally used to swimming in far more challenging conditions (ie the beach) we're probably less likely to go hurting ourselves.

No they are not. I went to a waterpark in Crete, Greece about 7 years ago. It was one of them black hole slides where its coverd up and you are in a ring.
Therefore, when the next rider is ready to go, the lifegaurd at the top cant see weather it is clear for them to go.
Click to expand...
All the slides at WnW here have optical sensors linked to traffic lights and gates at the top, so nothing like that ever happens anymore.
 
In response to the question about them being safe regarding personal injury, I am going to say no. Floors are wet everywhere, kids are really excited and full of adrenalin and running around a corner too fast is a recipe for disaster. Either they are going to slip over on the really **** "anti-slip" tiles and skid across the floor injuring themselves and potentially others. Also there is the factor of them crashing into someone else. Yes this can happen at theme parks, but with water involved in a water park it just adds to the problems. Although the environment in a water park is potentially under more control with life guards everywhere, I still feel that an accident like this is still going to be more likely.

As for perverts, well as far as I am concerned they need their ****ing cock and hands cut off.
 
^ indeed.

I agree to a certain degree about the "it's safe if you follow the rules" but it depends quite much about the place and the day.

One reason I don't like waterparks is that I visited Serena (Finland's largest waterpark, it actually was largest in Europe for a few years). Anyway, there on the lazy river I had like 5 kids swimming, floating under me, well not to be racist, but they were all russians (there's lots of them and Estonians there, there are russian signs, but unfortunately all people don't follow them to well). Thus few finns visit the place anymore.

Anyhow, there is also a large outdoor slide where you sit in this ring and slide down on a concrete? base and suddenly there are 'pools' of water in which you "crash" and it wouldn't be too hard to really hurt yourself there if you're a bit unlucky or run into other rings with people.

Oh and I've also taken one of those mat slides with a few bumps on a quite even slope and in one of them the mat just torned up a bit, lost touch and I sled outside the track and run towards the edges and got a few bruises and that was totally crap, and the staff totally ignored me-no eye contact, acted as if (the 'accident') happened every day, **** them.

Also they used to have a enclosed slide with spiral that went 40km/h, ~25miles/h that pretty much grated your back, for like 5 years, that really was stupid. But then again, I haven't visited the place since, though it is still tempting with their 12 different slides, hmm.. maybe just maybe once again.

But yeah, I'm done complaining, there are few other bad examples, and maybe I've just been unlucky, still I guess I can just say that I really don't like waterparks that much, because they aren't (those handful, I've been to) safe.
 
Gazza said:
Whilst doing some research and updates for the CF accidents page, I couldn't help but notice that there have been two deaths and 49 recorded injuries at water parks around the world.
Click to expand...
But how does this rate compare with normal swim centers and public pools?
I think you can negate issues like slipping and water contamination from the issue, as they can happen anywhere.
Click to expand...
I have no idea, I've not researched it. I would imagine that it's lower as pools and swin centres are easier to regulate, often employ more lifegaurads and probably have more safety features.

At my local pool, which is just a rectangular shape, they have four guards on at all times, two of which sit on a high chair and two that walk the pool.

As I said, I have no facts for the pool/swin centres, but I'm convinced just by the nature of the swim centres compared to water parks, that swim centres are safer.
 
I dont think they are safe but I go just for the thrill. Last time I went to one (Wet and Wild, Florida, Orlando) I smashed my face on the water ****ing hard on the Storm ride (space bowl type). Ok no marks but a bloody nose and a sore face. Just hit the water wrong I guess. But I still go. Alton Towers Splash Landings there water coaster I got stuck when they had to shut the ride down due to some one flipping out. Cracked my head as the guy forgot to say mind yer head! :lol: Funny and fun as hell.

But no I dont think they are safe. From past experiences.
 
I think that if you follow the rules and are careful for yourself, then you are fine.

I've never had a problem at a waterpark, as long as you look out for yourself all is well.
 
the same goes with most things but this world is a little currupt with health and safety issues,

e.g. someone put a dog in a microwave. killed it , and they sued the manufacturers for not imposing safety issues :!:
 
I hit my head on a slide and blacked out once.

But, I still think they're fine. Master Blasters > A lot of coasters.
 
Well they are safe if you follow the rules, don't run etc... but when you climb really high on the steps to get to the top of a ride doesn't feel safe, even though it is.

Although when i went Typhoon Lagoon, the wave pools floor is quite spiky and my right arm is all scarred now because of it, when i went the first aid place there were several people in their with all the injuries and bleedings.
 
****ing confusing necroposting, I wondered how Ben had posted two days in the future for a moment then.

Anyway seeing as its back, I did notice this yesterday

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/europe/8147032.stm

I've personally never found the attraction with water parks, so not odne much research with them.
However if the story is true it certainly doesn't back up the "if rules are followed" line as I doubt the rules state "do not attempt to open the vent".
Although its harsh to criticise water parks in general for a moment of stupidity from whichever staff member didn't lock it when they were supposed to.

On a side note its a shame the boys father got fined £240 for retalliating against the vultures that are paprazzi.
 
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