INDIANAPOLIS -- Now that summer is (nearly) here, it's time to get prepared for everything that comes with it -- like amusement park rides.
The Indiana Department of Homeland Security wants Hoosiers to be safe when they get on rides this year.
If you are about to board a ride that seems unsafe, there's a simple thing to do.
“[A]lert the ride operator and do not board the ride,” John Erickson, Director of Public Information for the Indiana Department of Homeland Security, said. “When standing in line for a ride, look for any issues that could make the ride unsafe.”
If the ride operator is inattentive, that should also be reported.
Indiana's ride safety hotline is 1-888-203-5020.
The IDHS offered the following tips to make sure everybody has a safe experience with the rides:
- Read all posted rules and listen to instructions given by ride operators.
- Watch the ride with children before boarding. Point out the operator and the entrance and exit locations prior to riding. Make sure children understand the instructions and warnings fully.
- Obey minimum height, age and weight restrictions. Never sneak children onto rides if they are too small or too young. A smaller/younger child may not be physically or developmentally able to stay safely seated.
- If children are unable to stay seated with hands and feet inside, don’t let them ride.
- Keep all body parts (hands, arms, legs, long hair, etc.) inside the ride at all times. Keep long hair pulled up with a hat or hair tie.
- Always use the safety equipment provided (seat belt, shoulder harness, lap bar, etc.).
- Remain in the ride until it comes to a complete stop at the unloading point. If a ride stops temporarily due to mechanical failure or other reasons, stay seated and wait for an operator to give further instructions.
- Be aware of personal and family physical conditions and health limitations. Do not board a ride or allow children to do so if the ride may aggravate a pre-existing condition.
