It was on March 21 this year that a little Indian girl, Sacchi lost her life on the
water-slide popularly known as 'double trouble' in Singapore's Sentosa Fantasy Island
amusement park. According to press reports the ride is meant for adults only, but the girl
along with her sister Sukhana was allowed to ride on it by the park authorities
themselves. In fact, attendants themselves helped the girls on the ride. According to
media reports, an eight-year-old boy drowned in a two-metre pool in the same fun park in
1998. The autopsy report of Saachi, issued by the Singapore General Hospital also spoke of
death due to drowning.
 Relatives
of the young girl speaking to the press immediately after the incident said 'Singapore is
supposed to be a very developed country with stringent safety measures. Yet we lost our
little girl who we believe, could have been saved'. The slide is almost 100 metres long
and people ride an inflatable rubber float in the shape of the figure eight which slides
smoothly down on water flowing on the slide. The Times of India in its report on the
incident quoting the mother of Sacchi said, " the two girls had been on the slide
five or six times. And Sacchi wanted to be on it for one last time."
This time however the float overturned and the
two girls were thrown headlong on to the slide. Sacchi was in the front and before her
sister knew what had happened, was sucked in from a torn portion of the rubber lining.
Sukhana meanwhile, came down the slide and raised an alarm. Attendants at the park had to
cut open the rubber lining to get to Sacchi, but by the time, she was brought out, she was
already unconscious. Sacchi's mother said had their been life guards at the spot, and had
the little girl been attended to immediately, she could perhaps have been saved. In 1997,
water-park safety became a front-page issue in the United States following the death of a
teenager at a water amusement park. A slide collapsed 37 feet above the ground under the
weight of a number of teenagers who apparently wanted to ride the slide together. In
addition 32 people were injured.
The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission's
National Injury Information Clearing-house estimates that in 1996, 3750 people were
injured on water slides alone. The majority of injuries involved children, ages 5 to 14,
who suffered concussions, contusions, fractures and sprains.  The most worrisome areas are wave pools, followed closely by
activity pools and slide pools. In the United States in 1995, more than two-thirds of the
24,000 rescue cases were in 4 feet to 10 feet of water and 75 per cent of the victims were
aged 12 or younger. Since their birth about 30 years ago in the United States, water-parks
have come up all over the world and tempt the visitors with an ever-challenging array of
attractions. But these parks also throw up a host of challenges with respect to water
safety.
While rides get more sophisticated,
professionals say that though surprising, the risks for visitors have remained constant
over the years - and may even be declining. Despite all these preventative measures,
though, incidents continue to happen. Visitors to amusement parks can easily avoid such
unsavoury incidents by observing certain basic precautions:
Supervise children at all times.
Weak swimmers and especially young children
should wear personal-flotation device.
Make sure you and your children know and
follow all rules of the park. Many injuries occur when parents let kids on slides that
should be off-limits to them.
Another problem is when people especially
children go down a water-slide head first rather than feet first.
Make children wear sunscreen.
Give them lots of water to avoid heat
exhaustion.
Parents should know the physical limits of
their children. It would be better if they observe a ride before they allow their child to
ride it.
Don't allow your child to dive. Always know
the water's depth before wading in.
Take extra precautions with toddlers. You
have to be touching your toddler at all times.
Don't run. Slips and falls cause most minor
injuries at water-parks.
Be prepared for emergencies. Know CPR, and
know where to find the nearest phone.
Ensure that a lifeguard is around when you
have children using the water slides.
The National Safety Council of America offers
the following safety tips to ensure a safe day for family and friends at amusement parks:
Before leaving for the
amusement park:
Dress Properly
Select comfortable walking shoes that
provide good traction. Open-toed shoes are not advisable.
Wear comfortable, light-coloured, casual
clothing for maximum coolness.
Consider protection from the sun by wearing
sunglasses and head protection.
Child safety
considerations:
Carry current photos and descriptions of
children. 
Make sure children know the full names of
their parents. If supervising a group, be aware of potential medical problems. Know all
names, addresses and phone numbers. Always provide for adequate supervision.
Select a common meeting place ahead of time
in case of separation and agree on a definite schedule.
Upon arrival at the
park:
Be an alert pedestrian; control children.
Most parks have a "lost parents" facility. Check the
location upon arrival.
Read park informational literature and
become acquainted with guest services such as strollers, first-aid facilities, restrooms,
picnic areas and accommodations for the handicapped. Pay special attention to any
specialised medical warnings.
Instruct your children to go to the nearest
park employee if they become separated from the group.
While at the park:
Walk, don't run. Be careful in areas that
may become wet.
Watch for tripping hazards such as litter
and uneven walking surfaces. Help by properly disposing of any trash you may accumulate.
Use handrails on
stairs and steps:
Consider your personal ride limitations. How
do height, speed, and movement affect you?
Look for and obey warning signs - age/height
restrictions, medical warnings, etc.
Listen carefully to verbal warnings and
instructions from ride operators. Cooperate! Also observe all signs.
Note the locations of ride exits and
emergency routes - let children know where you will meet them.
Secure loose garments, hats, glasses and
other possessions while riding.
Allow time to rest. Take breaks for
refreshments and for protection from the sun.
Take note of clothing family members are
wearing, in case you are separated in the crowds at the park.
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