{ How Can I Be Safe?}

To be the safest you possibly can be, here are some tips on how to be safe while riding amusement park rides. (courtesy of Kathy Fackler and the article "Ride at Your Own Risk" in the July 2000 issue of Good Housekeeping.)

• Read the posted rules and follow all restrictions such as height or age.
• Follow all verbal warnings and keep all parts of your body in the ride at all times.
• Always use the safety equipment provided, such as a lap bar, seat belt, etc.
• Hold on to handrails when provided.
• Remain in the ride until it comes to a final stop at the unloading point, even if the ride stops temporarily or breaks down.
• Stop riding before you get excessively tired to avoid accidents.
• Never ride if you have been using alcohol or drugs.
• If a ride has broken parts or looks unsafe because of the operator or other reasons, don't ride it.
• Don't be the first one to try out a new ride, because the safety engineers usually modify the rides during the first couple years it is out to make it safer.
• If your back is only supported by half of the seat, don't ride. You could get serious back injuries if the ride is jerky.
• Don't keep riding the same ride over and over. Give yourself some time to rest between runs.
• If the ride has many sharp turns and abrupt stops, with high speeds, avoid it. Your body wasn't made to withstand that much force with all those turns.

Related Topics:
Safety Guide

Citations:
Fackler, Kathy. "General Tips for Riders of All Ages." Safety Tips. 2000 <http://www.saferparks.org/safety_tips.htm> (June 2000)

Halper, Evan. "Ride at Your Own Risk." Good Housekeeping, (July 2000), pp.87-88.