Fall and Ejections - Part 2

Saferparks Report on Falls and Ejections - Last update July 2006

Table of Contents:
  Overview
  Data Sources
  Summary of Findings
  Whirling/Spinning Rides
  Kiddie Rides
  Coasters
  Other Ride Types
  Industry Standards for Restraints

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Summary of Findings

Falls and ejections occur on both amusement park and carnival rides. Amusement parks report more coaster ejections and falls involving very young children on kiddie rides than than carnivals do, and carnivals report more accidents involving 8- and 9-year-olds falling from whirling rides than amusement parks do. Beyond that, the reports show a fairly even mix.

Age Distribution for Falls/Ejections

Children are at highest risk for falls and ejections during the ride cycle. Two thirds of all falls/ejections involve children under 10 years of age.

Ride Types Most Commonly Implicated in Falls/Ejections

The ride types most commonly found in reports of falls/ejections were whirling/spinning rides and kiddie rides. Whirling/spinning rides and coasters were associated with the highest number of fatalities in this category.

The "whirling/spinning" category encompasses a wide range of rides, primarily full-sized in which spinning motion is central to the experience and tends to contribute significantly to the conditions surrounding the fall. The category "kiddie ride" is an equally diverse grouping in terms of makes/models, but fall reports in this area almost universally involve injury to a child kindergarten age or younger and a narrative description like "child stood up while ride was moving and fell out".

Fatalities

• Fourteen patrons (7%) were reported killed: 7 on whirling/spinning rides, 5 on coasters, 1 on a giant gondola wheel, and 1 on a kiddie train.
• Equipment failure was found to be the cause of 5 deaths.
• In 6 cases, the restraint system was insufficient to protect the riders. 3 children were killed in falls from Sizzler/Scrambler rides and 1 toddler was killed falling off a kiddie train. 2 overwieght adults were forcefully ejected from high-acceleration coasters with lap-only restraints.
• One woman fell from the top of a giant gondola wheel. Investigators ruled it a suicide.
• One woman was fatally ejected from a full-sized coaster. Investigators concluded she released her lap belt during the ride cycle.
• One 50-year-old man was fatally ejected from a Sizzler in Texas, a state that does not investigate accidents. The death was not reported by the ride owner per Texas law; a one-line report was added to the state insurance logs seven years after the man died.

Injury Severity and Hazard Exposure Severity

Although most records provided by the state regulatory agencies lack the level of detail and/or independent verification to fully analyze severity of outcome or severity of hazard exposure during the event, the data set does provide some insight into the health consequences of containment failures, particularly in regard to children.

Medical Treatment Required

• 12% of the reports noted that injuries were severe enough to require immediate in-patient hospital admission.
• 13% reported that injured patrons were sent by ambulance to an emergency room.
• Two reported that injured patrons were taken to a doctor.
• Two reports indicated that on-site first-aid was provided.
• The remaining 66% of the accident reports did not indicate what level of medical treatment was required.

Primary Hazard Exposure for Children

• Kiddie rides account for 25% of fall and ejection accident records. This accident category affects children age 6 and under, and peaks for 2-year-olds.
  • 71% of the kiddie ride accidents in the Falls/Ejection Data Set resulted in head injuries, ranging from minor to major, and including one fatality.
  • 23% of the records reported that the child was hit by, run over by, and/or dragged by the ride machinery after falling out.
• Whirling/spinning rides account for 31% of fall/ejection accident records. Falls from whirling/spinning rides peak at age 9.
  • 57% of the accident reports involve children age 9 and under.
  • 78% of the accident reports involve children age 16 and under.
  • In 65% of the cases involving children under age 12, the restraints provided on the ride remained latched, but failed to contain/restrain the child.
• Coasters (includes kiddie coasters, family coasters, and major coasters) account for 9% of fall/ejection accident records.
  • 65% of coaster falls/ejections involve children. Half of those injured were between the ages of 3-5; the other half were between 8-13.
  • 45% of child ejections from coasters were attributed to equipment or operator failure.

Falls and Ejections - Part 3: Summary (continued)