Water parks can be a lot of fun for both children and adults, but they can also be dangerous.
Water parks can be a lot of fun for both children and adults, but they can also be dangerous. Obviously, if your child isn't a very good swimmer, you will need to be extra vigilant in your supervision, but even if he can swim, accidents can occur. How can you let your child have fun and still keep him safe at a water park?
A responsible water park should have plenty of certified lifeguards on hand, and they should be noticeably visible all over the park. You should also notice that these lifeguards frequently swap out positions, moving from the wave pool to various water slides. If you are concerned about the supervision in the park, you should contact management.
Many water parks have life vests available for use, but you should also be able to bring your own. One of the most dangerous areas of a water park is generally the wave pool. Because the wave pool will not be in motion continuously, children may suddenly find themselves in peril when the waves do begin. A child may be able to stand in an area of the pool when it is still, but once the waves start up, that child may quickly find that he is in water over his head.
Because the waves are very tumultuous, it can be easy for anyone to be pulled under, especially if he is caught against the side of the pool or is swimming in a crowd of people. Don't rely on an inner tube as a safety device in the pool. Instead, be sure you are with your child at all times, and make sure his life jacket fits correctly.
When your child uses the various water slides that are scattered around the park, you should make sure that he understands how to use them correctly. He should only go down the slides feet first, and he should wait until the life guard gives the signal before he slides. He should also avoid any horseplay while he is waiting on the slide stairs and/or platform. Make sure your child has removed any jewelry before entering the park. Jewelry can catch on parts of a slide or a pool and possibly injure or even strangle a child.
Injury and drowning aren't the only possible dangers that can occur at a water park. If the water doesn't have the proper balance of chemicals, bacteria can grow. Various bacteria can cause infection and illness to water park patrons, and some of these illnesses can be life-threatening.
There is typically a baby play area in a water park. Since many babies may actually use this area, the chances of feces born illnesses, such as e coli, are great. You can protect your baby by not allowing her to play in the baby area. If you do plan on letting your baby use this area, however, be sure to put waterproof diapers on her, and plan on changing her diaper frequently. Wash her off immediately after leaving this area. Older children should be encouraged to use the restroom facilities several times while they are at the water park, also.
Children can also become sunburned at a water park. Because your child will be in and out of the water quite frequently, you will need to keep reapplying her sunscreen often throughout the day. If the temperature is very hot, you will also need to protect your child from heatstroke by making sure she drinks plenty of liquids and cools off by staying in the water, even if she is in the shallow edges of a pool.
Finally, when you and your child are finished swimming for the day, be sure to wash the chlorine and other chemicals off of her body and out of her hair. You should plan on letting her take a quick shower before you leave, and then have her clean more thoroughly once you get home. Water parks can be a lot of fun, but parents should use caution and common sense when taking their children to these parks.
