Carnival Safety Tips in Time For State Fair Season
Carlisle, Pennsylvania (PRWEB) July 26, 2013 -- Throughout Pennsylvania, various county fairs are drawing citizens from across the state to ride rides, view livestock, and eat fried food that most doctors would advise against. Fairs can be a fun way to while away the summer with family before the inevitable start to the school year.
But lurking amid this carnival atmosphere are circumstances which could contribute to safety hazards. It only takes one simple mistake on a fast-moving carnival ride for tragedy to strike, and it’s imperative that visitors do their part to ensure safety.
The Carlisle wrongful death lawyers of Handler Henning & Rosenberg want to make sure visits to county fairs this summer don’t turn tragic. In his position as an attorney, W. Scott Henning has seen far too many simple mistakes with long-lasting repercussions, and he wants to help citizens everywhere stay safe however possible.
“Most people are of the mind that the biggest threat to health that exists at a county fair is food that has the term ‘Deep Fried’ placed in front of it,” said Mr. Henning. “But bodily harm is a distinct possibility in numerous situations presented by amusement park environments. We hope that families can have fun this summer without putting themselves in danger.”
Those citizens that are planning to travel to a county fair in the next couple of weeks are being provided with some handy tips to put into action.
•Research- Conducting due diligence prior to visiting the fair is essential. The Pennsylvania State Association of County Fairs offers a handy guide to current and upcoming fairs in Pennsylvania.
But while that site should be any person’s first stop, it certainly shouldn’t be the last. Safety-conscious citizens will research a fair’s history as well as that of the owner and operator of the various attractions. The internet offers unprecedented access to information, and a little digging can go a long way.
•Parking- Parking situations at some fairs could be considered ramshackle at best. Park where directed, but make sure to limit speed and scan the entire environment while entering and exiting a space. Hundreds of families have descended upon a largely unfamiliar environment, and full attention is necessary to avoid striking a pedestrian.
•Safe Eating- That corn-dog might certainly be dangerous to cholesterol levels, but consumers should really be looking out for circumstances which could contribute to a Salmonella contamination. Bring hand sanitizer along when visiting fair food stands, and if it looks like cleanliness is not a priority at a given eatery, go elsewhere.
•Walking- County fairs are filled with obstacles on the ground that can easily be overlooked, especially by overeager children who just want to get to the next ride. Watch out for splayed extension cords, buffers, trashcans, and even oblivious persons that could pose a fall hazard.
•Child Attentiveness- It’s the parent who knows a child best, including what he or she can tolerate in terms of thrills. Parents should monitor a child’s behavior to determine if a certain ride is appropriate. If a child appears nervous when approaching a thrill ride, consider skipping that attraction. Otherwise, the child might panic onboard and do something that could compromise safety.
•Riding- Parents should go with children, making sure that lap bars are secured and that kids aren’t tempted to hop off of a ride vehicle while in motion.
•Operators- Ride operators are supposed to be trained to safely work a ride, but mistakes can be made. Suspicions that a safety concern has gone overlooked should be voiced. One example would be if a parent notices a ride operator letting children far smaller than what the height limit suggests board the ride. People should trust their instincts, pipe up where necessary, and exit if they feel unsafe in any way.
These tips can hopefully help parents enjoy the fair without fear of a serious personal injury.
Handler Henning & Rosenberg has been assisting injured parties for more than 90 years. W. Scott Henning and the rest of the firm’s partners offer representation to those injured in a host of practice areas, including automobile accidents, defective products, premises liability, dog bites, and more. Injured parties are encouraged to follow this link to visit the firm’s website or to call to obtain a free consultation.
Becky S. Voras, Handler Henning & Rosenberg, http://hhrlaw.com, 1-800-461-4140, [email protected]
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