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59 – Safety in Water Parks!
The Website For The Smart and Savvy Traveler
SMALL children should be instructed not to swallow park water. Chlorine and water pH readings are usually posted at large parks.
Zero-depth pools are recommended for toddlers. These pools have water games, sprays, and fountains with no appreciable water depth.
Plastic swim diapers are required at many parks. Changing is often restricted to designated, sanitized changing areas.
Prescription eyeglasses and sunglasses are allowed in water areas if used with safety straps.
HEALTH RESTRICTIONS apply to some rides. Personnel with neck or back problems, heart conditions, prone to motion sickness, or pregnant may NOT ride high speed or rapid descent rides.
AGE and HEIGHT restrictions apply to many rides. Size and coordination is critical to safety inside open water flumes (also known as a water slide, water chute, or a hydroslide).
No "chains" of people are allowed on water rides. A minimum of 5 seconds between riders is required, however, each park can adopt its own spacing requirement between riders.
Be sure the area is well supervised by lifeguards before you or others in your group enter the water.
Read all posted signs. FOLLOW the rules and directions given by lifeguards.
ASK questions if you are not sure about the correct procedure.
When you go from one attraction to another, note that the water depth may be different and that the attraction should be used in a different way.
The degree of the slope and width of the open flume (also known as a water slide, water chute, or a hydroslide) determines the recommendations on riding positions. The basic position has the rider with his/her face up, hands behind the head, and feet first crossed at the ankles. Sitting up positions are recommended for slower, open flumes with wide diameters and large slope degrees (6.5 or larger).
Inner tubes and mats are not designed for "bumper" use.
Immediately after use, remove the equipment from the pool to prevent other riders from hitting it.
Before you start down a water slide, get in the correct position - face up and feet first.
Do not run in or around the pools.
Alcoholic beverages are not allowed in most parks. In parks allowing alcohol, consumption is restricted to certain areas.
No horseplay is a standard regulation in all parks.
If you must smoke, do so in designated areas away from the pools.
Even if a lifeguard is present, give children your constant attention!
Read all posted signs and follow the rules and instructions.
Wear sunscreen and dress appropriately for the water park.
Drink plenty of fluids - Stay hydrated
Do not drink alcohol or spit it out.
PREVENT water-borne illnesses: Teach children not to drink pool water, and take them for bathroom breaks every hour. Also, check swim diapers every 30–60 minutes.
Do not sit on water jets.
Do not visit if you or your child is sick, especially with diarrhea, don't visit the water park.