Summer is officially here. The days are getting warmer and kids are begging their parents for a trip to the local water park. Amusement parks with water rides have become increasingly popular over the years. They can be fun for all ages, but the team at Syracuse Orthopedic Specialists (SOS) reminds parents that water parks do pose some risk for injuries.
One study published in 2009, concluded that In water park injuries, while children have especially head and maxillofacial trauma, extremity and spinal injuries are more frequent in the adult group. It found that 31.5% of the injuries occurred on waterslides; 21.9% of the injuries occurred in pools; and 46.6% of the injuries were from slips and falls on wet surfaces.
The SOS team provides the following safety recommendations to help enjoy water parks this summer:
- Parents should directly supervise young swimmers.
- Obey all rules and height and experience-level guidelines.
- Follow the lifeguards’ instructions and signal them if you detect trouble.
- Children under 48”, non-swimmers and weak swimmers should wear a Coast Guard approved life vest.
- Be alert of other riders/swimmers. Avoid those misbehaving and alert a lifeguard.
- Avoid pools or rides with dirty water. Make sure the water is clear enough to see swimmers.
Should you be injured at a water park despite taking precautions, immediately assess the injury. If it is life threating, immediately call 911 or visit the nearest emergency department. If the injury is non-life threatening, see your doctor as soon as possible or visit SOS PLUS After Hours Care. The experts at SOS PLUS After Hours Care are easily accessible for those in need of care this summer. A walk-in orthopedic medical clinic that treats patients of all ages with acute orthopedic conditions requiring immediate attention, SOS Plus now has two locations to better serve patients, at 5719 Widewaters Parkway in Dewitt and 5000 West Seneca Turnpike in Onondaga Hill. Hours for both locations are weekdays 5 pm – 8:30 pm, and weekends 10 am – 2 pm. For more information, call 315-883-5652.