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I need an answer regarding carnival & fair laws. Are there any?
Let me explain: I took my 1 year old son (who just turned 1 the day before) to a fair this past weekend. After riding a horse on the Merry Go Round I decided that he might like to ride the little cars that are similar to a Merry Go Round. I gave the operator 6 tickets for my son and I to ride. I sat down in a firetruck with my son on my lap and the operator of the ride proceeded to tell me that parents aren't allowed to ride with kids. That is completely absurd! My 1 year old isn't old enough to ride by himself. The operator then tells me that it's the law. Who in their right mind would pass a law that doesn't allow a parent to ride with their child?
I would really like a response for better understanding of his reasoning. It's been a tradition for me to attend this particular fair every year and after this incident I don't know if I will ever go back.
Thank you,
Tania
Dear Tania,
It does sound crazy, but he's right. The ride you describe sounds like it might be a Hampton kiddie ride, or a similar model by another manufacturer. They're not strong enough to bear the weight of adult riders, so kids can't ride with their parents. In the case of the Hampton ride, the manufacturer set a minimum height limit of 30 inches, which means kids as young as 9-months can ride alone, assuming they can sit up. Even the shorter toddlers reach 30 inches by the time they're 18 months old. You're quite right when you say that your 1-year-old isn't old enough to ride by himself.
Young children are at highest risk for accidents involving a fall or forceful ejection from moving amusement rides. Most of those accidents happen on kiddie rides, full-size spinning rides, and Ferris wheels. More 2-year-olds fall out of rides than any other age group. That's because parents can't always ride with their toddlers on kiddie rides, but the height limits suggest that the rides are safe for use by toddlers. It's a deliberately confusing situation. The carnival was hoping you'd buy a ticket. They're also hoping the kids stay seated, but many kids don't, especially when they see their mom or dad getting further and further away.
I'm glad you decided not to let your child ride alone. Small children are top-heavy because they're heads are bigger in relation to their bodies than ours are. 71% of toddlers who fall from kiddie rides wind up injuring their head. Most injuries are minor, but some are not. 23% of the accident reports for kids who fell out of kiddie rides state that the child was struck by, run over by, or dragged by the machine after falling out. The restraints aren't required to be child-safe. The whole situation is worrisome.
I will pass your message on to the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) and the industry standards committee for amusement rides (ASTM F-24). Those are the only two organizations that can help with this issue. There are currently no laws, regulations, or standards in this area. Manufacturers can set any height limit they want for children riding alone on kiddie rides, no matter how risky it seems. Even rides with a documented history of serious child accidents are allowed to continue operating with very low height limits. I would encourage you to contact CPSC through their website. You can report a safety issue online at: https://www.cpsc.gov/cgibin/incident.aspx
I would also urge you to read through the For Parents section of the Saferparks website, the Child Safety section of the Risk Factors page, and the Falls/Ejection report. Amusement rides approved for children are not required to be child safe. Many parks and carnivals take extra care in choosing rides and operational policies that protect small children, but the market and the current regulatory system allow riskier operators to stay in business as well. Parents can help to protect their children by learning about the common causes of childhood injury and tips for avoiding dangerous amusement experiences.
Thanks again for writing, and for being so smart about protecting your child. Keep trusting your instincts!Kathy Fackler
President, Saferparks
