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When news of the young girl who lost her legs at Six Flags theme park in Kentucky hit the AP wire, many wondered about the safety of theme park rides in general. The Six Flags Kentucky Kingdom park is hardly a fly by night organization run by tobacco splitting carnies. But, despite the occasional horrific accident,even local carnivals have a pretty good safety rate.

The National Consumer Product Safety Commission supports the idea of theme park safety. Recent statistics show that over 270 million people go to amusement parks every year. How many sustain injuries? The NCPSC says that 7,000 go to emergency rooms each year for injuries received on amusement park rides. 7,000 versus 270 million attendees is a fractional amount of injuries. As for deaths, over a twenty-year (25 years!) period, fewer than 3500 hundred deaths have occurred, with some being from natural causes.

In 2006, a 49-year-old German woman died at Walt Disney World in Orlando following a ride on Mission: SPACE at Epcot Center. A year earlier, a 4-year old from Pennsylvania also lost his life on the rocket simulator. It was determined that both had prior health conditions. The German woman suffered from high blood pressure and chronic headaches, whereas the young boy had an undiagnosed heart defect which put him at risk of sudden death under stress, especially under the centrifugal force of the rocket ride.

Know yourself and know your limits. If thinking about a high-energy ride seems to scare you to pieces, then how about taking that paddle-boat ride instead?

Although theme parks around the world are safe, the greatest enjoyment will come from using common sense. Above all, don't let fear keep you away from having the time of your life.

Learn more about this author, Nanci Milam.
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