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THRILLS COME WITH DEADLY FRILLS

Eid holidays are meant to be fun days, particularly for children. But for parents, it can also be trying times when their children insist on going for the various amusement rides in parks and entertainment centres in Ajman since they have no foolproof safety net to prevent accidents.

Most of the amusement rides do not have lap bars, safety belt or any other form of accident-prevention mechanism.

According to an official at the emergency room at Khalifa Hospital, a five-year-old boy was seriously injured recently when he was jumping on the trampoline for over an hour. The child was brought to the hospital by civil defence officials and his condition is now stable.

The official said that last Ramadan, three children were injured when they were trapped inside a inflated rolling amusement ride, while two other toddlers were frightened and severely wounded when they tried to jump out of a train ride because the operator failed to stop it.

Rabab Ahmed, who usually takes her son on these rides on Corniche Road in Ajman, said the attendants are careless and they concentrate only on counting the tickets, leaving the children in the rides without supervision. Some children often get frightened and try to stop the ride, but by the time the attendants realise this and stop the ride, children often panic and injure themselves. "No lap bars, seat belt or any kind of safety device that can prevent the child from injury are fitted on the amusement rides," she added.

Speaking to City Times, Lieutenant Colonel Abdullah Ibrahim Al Nuaimi, Head of the Civil Protection Section of Ajman Civil Defence Department, said the operations room and rescue section had intensified their efforts during Ramadan and Eid season, and respond to any emergency to prevent loss of life, property or injuries. The inspectors are always inspecting parks and rides to ensure safety of children during Eid and other festivals.

Admitting that there are no mandatory safety standards for amusement rides, or regulatory body overseeing amusement ride designs, he said the eligibility guidelines are set by the manufacturers, and do not always take the developmental stages of childhood into account.

He said amusement rides are no different from any other product targeting children. "They offer both amusement and risk. But, parents should use their judgment while selecting amusement rides for children in the same way they do when deciding childrens' food, TV shows or toys in the interest of their children," he said, adding that not all rides suit all age groups of children.

Children should not be allowed to get into rides meant only for adults, Lt. Col Al Nuami said, adding : "Just because a ride attendant says it's okay for a child, his word should not be taken for granted by parents."

Lt Col Al Nuiami said amusement ride accidents involving children typically stem from "circle of misplaced trust." "The industry counts on parents to protect their children from going on rides which pose danger, and parents count on industry to design safe rides. The only way to prevent these accidents is to break the circle," he said, adding : "As civil defence, we do our part although we are not part of this circle."

He said amusement ride safety was the joint responsibility of manufacturers, owners, operators, safety officials and patrons.