Text-only version
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
Whirling/Spinning Rides
The "whirling/spinning" category encompasses a wide range of rides in which spinning motion is central to the experience and tends to contribute significantly to the conditions surrounding the fall. Teacups are included (kiddie and full-sized), as was a family dark ride with cars that spin. view records
Whirling/spinning rides account for 31% of accidents and 50% of the fatality reports in the Falls/Ejection Data Set. Falls from whirling/spinning rides peak at age 9.
Children are the primary risk group. 57% of the accident reports involve children age 9 and under. 78% of the accident reports involve children age 16 and under.
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| Photo by Worchester Telegram&Gazette |
- Poor restraint fit was the primary hazard for children 11 and under. Note: ejections from teacup rides were not included in this measure; they are the only whirling/spinning rides in the Data Set that do not come equipped with restraints.
- In 65% of those cases, the restraints provided on the ride remained latched but failed to contain/restrain the child.
- 12% of the records cited equipment failure as the cause.
- 9% cited operator error as a contributing factor.
- Teenage children (age 13-16) accounted for 14% of falls/ejections from whirling rides. 38% of those reports noted equipment or operations failures as the cause. The remaining records for this age group did not include detailed findings from regulatory investigations.
- Equipment or operations failure was noted as the cause of half the falls/ejections involving adult patrons. Most of the remaining adult ejection records came from Texas, a state that does not investigate amusement ride accidents.
- Almost half (46%) of the records noted head injuries ranging from minor to fatal.
- Falls and ejections account for 9% of all government accident reports provided to Saferparks for whirling/spinning rides.
| Ride Name | Gov. Reports | News Reports | Sum Reports | Victims' Ages (includes fatal & nonfatal) |
| Sizzler | 8 | 2 | 10 | 3, 5, 6, 9, 9, 18, 41, 50,
child of unspecified age, 2 adults (ride came apart) |
| Himalaya | 6 | 6 | 3, 10, 14, 15, 18, & patron of unspecified age |
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| Scrambler | 4 | 1 | 5 | 4, 6, 7, 9, 35 |
| Teacups (various) | 4 | 4 | 2, 6, 11, child of unspecified age | |
| Wipeout | 4 | 4 | 4, 6, 42, patron of unspecified age | |
| Paratrooper | 3 | 3 | 7, 25 | |
| Rock N Roll | 3 | 3 | 9, 15 | |
| Skymaster | 3 | 3 | 8, 9, 13 | |
| Zipper | 1 | 2 | 3 | 9, 9, 11, 14, 14 |
| Octopus | 1 | 1 | 2 | 4, 7, 16 |
| Psycho Swing | 2 | 2 | 11, 16 | |
| Roll-o-Plane | 1 | 1 | 2 | 19, child of unspecified age |
| Sidewinder | 2 | 2 | 5, 8 | |
| Breakdance | 1 | 1 | 8 | |
| Gee Wizz | 1 | 1 | 8 | |
| Gyroscope/Spiroscope | 1 | 1 | 9 | |
| Hard Rock | 1 | 1 | 13 | |
| Hat Dance | 1 | 1 | 4 | |
| Hawk | 1 | 1 | 50 | |
| Hurricane | 1 | 1 | 13 | |
| Hustler | 1 | 1 | 7 | |
| Kamikazi 2 (Bansai) | 1 | 1 | 24 | |
| Kite Flyer | 1 | 1 | 2 | |
| Rainbow | 1 | 1 | 4 | |
| Remix | 1 | 1 | 47 | |
| Roger Rabbit Car Toon Spin | 1 | 1 | 4 | |
| Spider | 1 | 1 | 16 | |
| Tilt-a-Whirl | 1 | 1 | 7 | |
| Top Spin | 1 | 1 | 12 | |
| Twister | 1 | 1 | 8 | |
| Whirlwind | 1 | 1 | 32 | Whirly Gig | 1 | 1 | 9 |
| Wind Shear | 1 | 1 | 9 |
