Amusement Park Hazards Stats and Facts

FACTS

The most common causes of amusement park injuries into the following five areas:

• Mechanical issues – such as exposed electrical wires, malfunctioning lap bars, failing to shut off, etc
• Operator behavior – such as not properly maintaining the ride, stopping the ride abruptly, improperly assembling the attraction.
• Consumer Behaviors – standing up, rocking the cars/ride, not sitting properly.
• Other Injuries that occur while the ride is functioning normally, such as loss of consciousness or hemorrhages on a rapidly spinning ride.
• Combination of hazards listed above.

STATS

• In 2019, there were an estimated 1,299 ride-related accidents resulting in injuries in amusement parks in the U.S.
• This is about 3.7 injuries per 1 million visitors in 2019.
• In 2016, there were 1,253 injuries among people who went on rides on fixed-ride amusement parks.
• In 2015, there were 1,508 injuries in fixed-ride amusement parks in the U.S.

According to a 2017 study by Nationwide Children’s Hospital on child injuries at amusement parks:

• 29% of the injuries were soft-tissue injuries
• 28% of injuries were to the head and neck
• Strains and sprains were also the most common at 21%
• 20% of the injuries were cuts
• 10% of the accidents in children resulted in broken bones
• The areas of the body that suffered the most injuries include arms, face, and legs.