Danger Signs For Thrill Rides

An autopsy has been performed on a 4-year-old Pennsylvania boy who died on a ride at Walt Disney World. But the cause of his death is still unclear.

Daudi Bamuwamye never regained consciousness after passing out on a ride called Mission: Space, which simulates a rocket launch and a trip to Mars. His death has sparked fresh concerns about the safety of amusement park rides.

"This was one of the most shocking things that's come across my desk," Alan Korn, public policy director of the National SAFE KIDS Campaign, tells The Early Show co-anchor Rene Syler. "No one ever, ever expects at the end of a day at an amusement park, you will find yourself in an emergency room, or worse yet, in this case with a death. Fortunately, it is very, very rare."

According to the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC), from 1997-2000 there was an average of 4.5 estimated fatalities per year at fixed-site and mobile amusement parks combined. Fatalities related to fixed-site amusement rides have averaged two annually over the last 25 years.

Most of the rides are very, very safe," Korn says. "But that doesn't mean parents can throw caution to the wind. You have to heed warnings and also follow the park rules and obey the restrictions. And also kind of know your own child. Only a parent knows their child. And sometimes even though they might meet the restrictions, the height or weight or age, they might not be ready for the ride."

He offers the following tips for parents on how to keep their children safe on thrill rides.

• Read posted rules carefully. "They're there for a reason," he says. "Get to know what the restrictions are for that ride, what type of rider should be on that ride. If you have a question about whether or not your child is ready or not, there are plenty of lines to stand in at Disney World. Back out of it, and go some place else."
• Be a role mode. Korn explains: "These rides are getting more and more advanced. They're getting more and more physically intense and visually intense. So kind of stand with your child whether or not you're at the traveling park or at the fixed site. Kind of watch the ride a little bit. Let them get familiar with it. If they exhibit any signs of apprehension and they don't want to go on the ride, head to something else. There's plenty to do in these parks."
• Safe selection is crucial. Korn says this is particularly important when taking kids on adult rides. "You need to be aware of their physical and cognitive capabilities," he explains.
• Be more cautious at traveling parks. He says parents "should be slightly more cautious. The rides are getting put up and taken back down frequently, and their safety records are not as readily available."