Water parks offer children a great way to beat the summer heat and have fun with friends and family. Despite the enjoyability of water parks, there are risks that parents and other adults need to keep in mind before sending children off for a day of fun.
Here are six of the most common risks found at water parks that parents, grandparents, and other adults need to keep in mind:
- Slip and Fall Risks
- Drowning Risks
- Chemical Hazards
- Sun Exposure
- Dehydration
- Waterborne Disease
- Collisions with Other Guests
1. Slip and Fall Risks: With all the wet surfaces, combined with running around, slipping and falling on damp floors is a real risk at water parks. Slippery surfaces can cause serious injuries such as sprains, breaks or head trauma. Always encourage your child to wear proper footwear when visiting the park and make sure they understand not to run or play too close to pools or other wet areas where sliding and falling can occur.
2. Drowning Risks: Drowning is one of the leading causes of death for young children, so it’s important for parents to pay attention when their kids are swimming or playing in any body of water – including those found at water parks. Make sure your child knows how to swim before allowing them access to deepwater areas and remind them not to engage in any unsupervised activities near these areas – even if lifeguards are present.
3. Chemical Hazards: Water parks use a variety of chemicals such as chlorine in order to keep the pool clean and safe from bacteria but these same chemicals can irritate skin, eyes, and respiratory systems if not handled properly. To minimize exposure risks, make sure your child avoids ingesting any pool water while swimming and avoid pool areas treated with high levels of chemical sanitizers.
4. Sun Exposure: Excessive sun exposure is another health hazard associated with outdoor activities such as those found at a water park. Prolonged exposure without proper protection can lead to sunburns which can be extremely painful for children as well as increase their risk for developing skin cancer later on in life. Be sure that your child wears sunscreen before engaging in any outdoor activities at the park – especially if it’s particularly hot outside – and bring along protective clothing such as hats, sunglasses, or long sleeves shirts when possible too.
5. Dehydration: Staying hydrated is essential when it comes to spending time outdoors during hot weather – especially at a location like a water park where there’s plenty of physical activity taking place as well. Make sure your child drinks plenty of fluids throughout the day so they don’t become dehydrated. This will help prevent fatigue or even more severe medical issues such as heat stroke due to overexertion without enough fluids in their system.
6. Waterborne Disease: As a parent, you must always be cognizant of the fact that waterborne diseases can exist at waterparks. Every year, individuals become ill as a result of being exposed to some sort of waterborne pathogen found to have been present at such a venue. If your child complains of not feeling well in the aftermath of a visit to a waterpark, you need to be proactive and get your son or daughter promptly examined by a physician.
7. Collisions with Other Guests: Finally, when it comes to keeping your kids safe at water parks this summer, you – and they – must be on guard against collisions with other patrons. This is best accomplished by encouraging your children, particularly younger ones, to stay away from more congested areas at a water park.
Protect Your Legal Rights After a Water Park Accident
If you or your child were injured in a water park accident, you can learn about your important legal rights by calling The Doan Law Firm at (800) 349-0000. We can schedule an initial consultation with a lawyer at any one of our 40 offices in the United States. We can also arrange a virtual case evaluation with a lawyer online as well. There is no cost for an initial consultation with our firm.
There is never a charge for an initial consultation with a Doan Law Firm attorney. In fact, our firm makes an attorney guarantee. We will never charge an attorney fee in your case unless we win for you.
