Corbett Proclaims Amusement Ride Safety
Week, June 3-9
ERIE – Adventure seekers looking for thrills
on amusement rides across Pennsylvania are reminded to follow basic
guidelines to make sure they stay safe, Agriculture Secretary George
Greig said.
“Everyone should take precautions to ensure
each ride experience is a safe one,” Greig said during a visit to Waldameer
Park & Water World in Erie. “Take fun seriously and make safety the
most important part of your family outing, especially when your fun involves
amusement rides and attractions.”
Greig offered the following safety tips to
riders:
Look for the Commonwealth
of Pennsylvania registration plate on the ride and the public notice
sign verifying it has been inspected according to Pennsylvania Amusement Ride
Safety Act standards.
Before getting in line for the ride, check
and follow boarding restrictions, including those for medical concerns, height
and weight.
Listen carefully to all instructions.
Operators are trained to keep riders safe.
Make sure ride operators are alert. Never
board a ride if the operator appears to be inattentive.
Stay in to stay safe. Keep your arms, hands,
feet and legs inside the ride at all times. Always remain on the ride until it
comes to a complete stop.
Use shoulder harnesses, seat belts, lap bars
or chains appropriately.
Stop riding before you get tired. Tired
riders are more likely to be injured than alert riders.
Stay hydrated. Not drinking enough water can
increase your risk of injury or illness on some rides.
When riding with or assisting a child, know
their capabilities and take an active role in determining whether a ride is
appropriate. Instruct your child on acceptable ride behavior before boarding.
Always supervise your child on a ride. Ask the operator to stop the ride if you
see that your child is crying or shows any other signs of distress.
The Department of Agriculture’s Bureau of
Ride and Measurement Standards registers more than 8,700 amusement rides and
attractions – more than any other state or foreign country – and certifies and
trains the state’s nearly 1,300 private industry inspectors.
The department has inspected and registered
amusement rides under the Amusement Ride Safety Act since 1984. It regularly
participates in education and outreach seminars that include classes and
hands-on demonstrations for ride operators and inspectors.
Amusement rides are a staple
of Pennsylvania’s 108 county and community fairs. For a complete listing
of the state’s fairs, including locations and dates, view the 2012 Pennsylvania
Fair Guide online at www.agriculture.state.pa.us.
For more information about ride safety or the
Bureau of Ride and Measurement Standards, call 717-787-6772 or visit www.agriculture.state.pa.us and
search “Amusement Rides.”
Editor’s Note: The text of Governor
Corbett’s proclamation declaring Amusement Ride Safety Week
in Pennsylvania, from June 3-9, follows.
WHEREAS, Pennsylvania is home to
more than 8,700 amusement rides and attractions that provide entertainment to
millions of visitors at the state’s county and community fairs, carnivals and
amusement parks, totaling more than any other state or foreign country; and
WHEREAS, to ensure the mechanical and
physical safety of amusement rides and the safe enjoyment by all ride patrons,
the Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture’s Bureau of Ride and Measurement
Standards administers the state’s amusement ride safety program, and is a
national leader in ride inspection and safety; and
WHEREAS, the department works cooperatively
with the amusement ride industry, certifying and training nearly 1,300
professional private industry inspectors to ensure every ride
in Pennsylvania is inspected and registered. For quality assurance,
an additional staff of inspectors is employed by the commonwealth; and
WHEREAS, the commonwealth is committed to
amusement ride inspector training and regularly leads and participates in
national safety education and outreach programs that include workshops and
hands-on demonstrations; and
WHEREAS, consumers play a role in ensuring
their own safety while riding amusement attractions, and are reminded that
amusements are best enjoyed as they were intended to be ridden, without the
addition of rider-added thrills.
THEREFORE, in recognition of the cooperative
roles of the Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture, the amusement ride
industry and ride patrons in keeping amusement attractions safe for all to
enjoy, I, Tom Corbett, Governor of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania,
do hereby proclaim June 3-9, 2012 as Amusement Ride Safety Week
in Pennsylvania.
TOM CORBETT, Governor
Source: PR
Newswire
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