Water Slide Injuries Prevention
August 17, 2018
Water slides are a part of summer fun for millions of people. In Florida, water activities are a great escape from the summer heat. Many people don’t think about the potential for water slide injuries when attending a theme park or birthday party. It’s very easy to get hurt on water slides if you do not follow the proper safety precautions while on the equipment or ride.
Water Slide Injuries
According to studies done by Safer Parks, theme park water slide injuries are mostly caused by high velocity slides and slippery surfaces. Injuries resulting from rides on water slides include scrapes, hyperextensions, dislocations, head injuries, lacerations, water inhalation, suffocation, and death.
Inflatable Water Slide Injuries
Inflatable water slides that you see at birthdays or home gatherings are not always safe. At first glance, they seem harmless. What could go wrong? These slides have been known to deflate, collapse, flip, fall over, or blow away due to strong gusts of wind. Children have been trapped inside resulting in suffocation, and have been ejected from a slide that is flying away. Make sure the slide is secured to the ground before letting anyone take a ride.
Slippery Surfaces
Even though water slides are built for amusement, there is a real danger of injuries without safety precautions. Be cautious on water slides that have really steep inclines where you have to wait in line. Wet surfaces on extremely tall slides have led to a catastrophic falls, sometimes resulting in death.
Avoid Dirty Water
When many people are using a water slide, the water can get extremely contaminated. Feces, bacteria, and germs can manifest in the water. If a slide has sitting water, especially if it’s warm, there is a high risk of your body being infiltrated and becoming ill.
Keep Small Children Off Tall Slides
One of the greatest hazards of tall water slides is the danger of an extreme fall. Children are smaller and have a greater chance of squeezing through slim barriers and stairwells. Being less weight than adults, children are also more likely to hover off of a vertical water slide or fall off an even keel, which could result in unexpected water park injuries, or even a tragedy.
Senior Citizens Should Not Ride
Many water slides are not safe for senior citizens. The conditions such as slippery surfaces, steep drops, and impactful landings in pools of water may not be suitable for the physique or condition of a elderly person’s body. If you are a senior citizen and you plan to ride a water slide, precede with caution and be sure to look for signs in the ride’s waiting line that note precautions to be aware of.
Water Slide Injuries Lawyer – Jodat Law Group
When you or your loved ones are injured at a theme park or inflatable water slide, it’s important to contact an attorney you can trust. The entity or equipment owner may be at fault for negligence that caused the water park injuries. Get a free consultation by messaging or calling us today. Who’s That? Jodat!
