Several years ago, my office represented a boy who fractured his legs after he was thrown from a water slide at a large water park to the concrete pavement below. Our investigation into the matter revealed that the boy should never have been permitted on the slide because he was grossly under the weight requirements set forth by the designer of the slide. Further, we soon discovered that the water park operators elected to use their own tubes—that were inappropriately sized for the slide. For me, the water park incident was a real eye-opener into the compromised safety standards used at many water parks, carnivals, fairs, amusement rides and theme parks. The rush to cash in during the season I quickly learned that many ride and amusement operators are far more concerned about the profitability of their operation than the safety of the people who use them. For smaller scale… Continue Reading
Category Archives: Amusement Parks / Carnivals
Subscribe to Amusement Parks / Carnivals RSS FeedTrampoline Parks: Too Much Of A Dangerous Thing?
Posted in Amusement Parks / Carnivals, TrampolinesAlways on the cutting edge, some of my son’s friends are always looking for different birthday themes. Moving beyond paint guns and ‘Pump it up’, my son was recently invited to a birthday gathering at a trampoline park. Trampoline parks making their way into the Midwest Everything sounded great until I Googled the facility and saw a link to a Chicago Tribune article about the new trampoline park trend invading the Chicagoland area. Products of the West Coast, the facilities’ utilize a groups of trampolines to assemble a series of trampolines that combine to form an expansive jumping surface. Billed as a wholesome family activity, the Tribune article highlighted the Xtreme Tramoline in Carol Stream, IL. Despite a suggestion of inclusiveness, the trampoline parks draw a predominately younger group of patrons with an average age of 16. While all trampoline patrons (or their parents in the case of patrons under… Continue Reading
Backyard Fun: Rented Play Rides Need To Be Set Up Properly To Protect Children
Posted in Amusement Parks / CarnivalsA reminder of the dangers posed to children by rented play equipment made headlines in Chicago when eight children were sent to the hospital for various types of injuries they sustained when an inflatable slide tipped over while the children were upon it. According to Chicago Sun Times reports, the inflatable slide was rented from a carnival equipment rental company for an end-of-the-year party at Robinson School in Lyons, IL. When the slide tipped over, many of the children where thrown into the asphalt surface resulted in cuts and bruises that required medical treatment at local hospitals. Backyard Play Safety Now that the backyard play season is upon us, it important to remember to conduct a review of all play equipment (swing sets, trampolines, bouncies) prior to allowing children to use it. Of course its tempting to allow children access to both backyard play-sets and rented equipment, but an… Continue Reading
Authorities Look For Answers Following Boy’s Death In Roller Coaster Accident
Posted in Amusement Parks / CarnivalsAuthorities from the Illinois Department of Labor are assembling at Go Bananas, an indoor amusement park in the Chicagoland area following the death of three-year-old identified as Jayson Dansby. Like many kids out for an evening of fun with their family, Jayson and his family went to Go Bananas, an indoor amusement park and pizza restaurant in Norridge, IL, was just out for a good time. Sadly, an innocent roller coaster ride with his twin brother turned tragic when Jason fell out of the ride. According to reports from the Chicago Tribune, “Boy 3, dies after fall from children’s roller coaster,” the boy was declared dead on the scene from apparent head injuries he sustained when he fell out of a roller coaster known as the Python Pitt. Though the exact cause of this incident will likely remain under investigation for some time, the boys fall happened when he slipped… Continue Reading
Children In Amusement Parks & Carnival Rides: It’s Not All Fun And Games
Posted in Amusement Parks / CarnivalsAmusement parks and carnivals are a fun attraction, especially for children. The rides, the games, the shows – all are developed to entertain and amaze. However, these places for fun and revelry can also pose serious dangers. In Illinois, all amusement parks and rides that are open to the public must be inspected and obtain a permit before the first operation, and every year thereafter. The Illinois Department of Labor (IDOL) is responsible for these inspections, and inspects about 5,000 rides every year. The fine for operating an amusement ride that is open to the public without a current Illinois permit is guilty of a Class A misdemeanor with fines up to $2500. Facilities that require inspection include: Carnival rides Ride simulators Carousels Ski lifts Trains Rope tows Mechanical bulls Go-kart tracks Haunted houses. The Illinois Carnival and Amusement Ride Safety Act sets out the rules, requirements, and penalties for… Continue Reading
Are Some Child-Amusements Taking ‘Scary’ Too Far?
Posted in Amusement Parks / Carnivals, Premises LiabilityIn my house, it seems like we start celebrating Halloween in July! Costumes, parties, candy– and yes a trip to a haunted house or two seem to fill our schedules in the weeks leading up to the big day. In the past few years, I noticed a trend towards bigger and more exciting haunted houses where there is more of everything– monsters and blood— but a noticeable lack of safety. Most of the haunted houses are put together quickly— and without much oversight from regulatory agencies as to how they are constructed or the types of trickery they intend on providing. Highlighting risk of injury to children at amusements A recently filed lawsuit in Tennessee is a reminder that perhaps haunted houses need to begin to reconsider their safety. Apparently, the seven-year-old boy fell from a ramp and broke is arm as he was being chased by a man with… Continue Reading