It sounds like a very tragic and freak accident. I have had many opportunities to go on overnight trips- including one to Disney- with my school. The vast majority of these trips that school groups take turn out completely fine with no incidents, that's why they make the news when something happens. I'm grateful that my parents trusted me enough to go on trips to Disney, waterparks, amusement parks, etc. with various groups. The one to Disney involved flying from Missouri and spending a week there and no, my parents weren't with us (7th grade). I still have very fond memories of that trip and learned an incredible amount. It's natural to be nervous when your kids go somewhere, but you can't wrap them in bubble wrap. These kinds of accidents can happen anywhere, at anytime.
DD is actually a very good swimmer for not having had lessons. She can do the length of the pool and back under water on one breath. Swims great above water and can doggy paddle/float for a while. I've been drilling in her head no horseplay in/near the water. But she is 14 and will be with other 13/14 year olds so I can imagine how it might get.
It wasn't actually the water park part that was making me nervous. It is the roller coasters and thrill rides. I keep telling her to make sure her lap belt and safety bars are properly hooked before any ride takes off and if they aren't to yell FIRE at the top of her lungs to keep that ride from starting. I'm physically naseaous right now just thinking about her on some of those coasters.
I'm going to be a super-nervous wreck with both portions of her trip tomorrow now.
I can't imagine the pain the parents of that little boy are in. And I never want to experience it.
If it makes you feel any better, the
vast majority of theme park injuries/fatalities are direct result of misconduct on the part of the guest. I cannot recall a single time a person was ejected from a roller coaster when it was the fault of the park. In every instance I have ever read about the guest took it upon themselves to unbuckle their seatbelt in order to engage in ill thought out stunts.
Theme parks really are quite safe. I used to work attractions in Fantasyland and my boyfriend is a supervisor for for Worlds of Fun, which is owned by Cedar Fair. He has supervised several major coasters including their inverted one, and he also supervises the rip cord (the thing where they hook you up to a cable and swing you between two towers). The parks take safety
very seriously. There are numerous fail safes to prevent any kind of accident.
Employees must check every single seatbelt and lapbar (and say "check" when they do it). In fact, many times I have had mine checked twice! In order to launch the coaster every employee must give the clear hand signal and it takes at least two employees to hold down buttons (in separate locations) to launch it. If a seat belt or lap bar is not down all the way or latched properly the computer will stop the coaster and not allow it to proceed until the devices are latched properly- whether or not somebody is seated there.
Really, roller coasters are quite safe- probably safer than driving down the interstate! I would not advise her to yell "FIRE" for the simple reason she could easily start a panic which could result in injuries from tramplings- including fatalities. In fact, I'm pretty sure it would treated akin to yelling "FIRE" in a crowded theatre. If for some reason her belt is not latched and she thinks they are about to launch it, she should yell, "I'm not buckled in" Or even simpler, "HELP" at the top of her lungs. But like I said, no thrill ride computer will allow it to be launched if even one seat belt or lap bar is not fully engaged.
