The news reports tend to focus mainly on the carnival ride accidents that kill multiple victims. Recent news reported a ride accident in Villacanas, Spain that killed three young men and injured at least one other victim. Reportedly, a ride called the Tarantula came un-tethered from the ground and sent riders flying from their seats. But this accident, though dramatic and devastating, fortunately remains atypical. The vast bulk of amusement park ride accidents cause only a few minor injuries. The amusement park ride injury statistics can be grouped by injured area of the body, age group, or gender.
Neck injuries from carnival ride accidents affect:
7% of adults,
4% of children in the 1 to 6 years of age range, and
11% of injuries for children in the 7 to 18 years of age range.
Injuries to the head and face represent:
40% of injuries to children aged from 1 to 6 years,
18% of teen injuries,
12% of adult injuries, and
24% of injuries for children aged from 7 to 12 years.
Upper and lower torso injuries (mainly back injuries) form:
30% of adults’ carnival ride accidents injury complaints,
12% of teen amusement park injury complaints,
19% of complaints for children from 7 to 12 years of age, and
6% of injury complaints for children from 1 to 6 years of age.
* Male riders suffer more sprain and strain injuries than female riders, and teenage boys suffer the most among males from sprains and strains.
* Female riders suffer more lacerations and internal injuries from rides than males. Adult females generally suffer more fractures, contusions, abrasions, lacerations and concussions.
A quick look at these amusement park ride injury statistics may make you want to avoid amusement park rides for a time. But remember, millions upon millions of patrons ride these rides each year without any harm whatsoever. Your chances of suffering even the most minor injury from a ride, like a small abrasion or a bruise, stand at about half a percent. Your chances of suffering a serious injury or a fatality from amusement park ride accidents are even smaller. So don’t let statistics spoil your fun. But do be careful. Don’t engage in horseplay on a ride. And if your instincts kick in and something bothers you about a particular ride, don’t get on. Your instincts just might be right.