Child Safety Agenda

Saferparks' 5-Year Plan - Part Three:
Create Child Safety Guidelines for Amusement Rides

Saferparks is committed to reducing the risks that many amusement rides pose to children. Half of all ride-related accidents reported to state regulatory agencies involve children 13 and younger. Two thirds of all falls and ejections involve children under 10 (click on thumbnail at right to view age graph).
Rigorous post-accident analysis and data sharing, combined with modern child safety techniques, offer the best chance of reducing ride-related injuries for this age group.
Industry, regulators, parents, and children share responsibility for patron safety. Saferparks advocates a holistic approach, working simultaneously on the evolution of kid-safe rides and ride-safe kids. Young children should never be given more responsibility than they can reasonably be expected to manage on their own. Hazards with the potential of causing death or serious injury can only be mitigated through adult intervention.

In 2004, Saferparks began seeking out resources and brainstorming ideas for use in developing guidelines for the safe use of amusement rides by children. The safe use guidelines will incorporate accepted standards and guidelines covering safe machinery design, operational policies, patron instructions/warnings, and public education resources for parents and children.
In January 2005, Saferparks proposed changes to the Standard Practice for Design of Amusement Rides and Devices (ASTM F2291) that would require a child safety analysis for any new ride design intended for use by children. The ASTM F-24 industry standards committee agreed to form a task group to research the issue, and invited Saferparks to participate.
In July 2006, Saferparks compiled and posted a report analyzing government accident reports on falls and ejections from amusement rides.
- Saferparks Report on Falls/Ejections
On July 29, 2006, Saferparks posted an outline of proposed National Child Safety Standards for Amusement Rides . The proposal would create uniform protections for children under ten who use amusement rides, and may be implemented through federal, state, or local law. The proposed requirements do not conflict with existing industry standards, but simply expand the risk analysis approach into the area of child safety.