Waterpark is a favorite entertainment not only for children, but also for many adults. And indeed, what could be better than rolling at high speed from a hill and falling into cool water. But is this harmless fun as it seems at first glance?
History of occurrence
Water parks in Russia arose relatively recently. So, the first such entertainment attraction appeared in 1997 near the resort town of Tuapse. Over the past decade, water parks in the country began to grow like mushrooms after rain. This is not surprising. After all, the majority of the population is crazy about this water fun. Therefore, such entertainment is in great demand.
At present, Russia has one of the largest water parks in all of Europe - Tiki-Tak. It is located near Anapa. Due to its popularity, water activities have appeared not only in the resort and major cities of the country, but also in the provinces.
Is it safe?
Unfortunately, accidents in water parks are not so rare. They arise, as a rule, due to non-observance of safety measures by the vacationers themselves. Sometimes accidents in water parks happen due to technical malfunctions in the rides. So getting injured on a water slide is a fairly common occurrence. More often than not, children are injured of varying severity. However, it also happens that a visit to the water park results in a fatal accident.
Tragedies on the water
In 2011, Russia was shocked by the announcement of two child deaths that occurred during a visit to water attractions. Both tragedies happened in the Rostov region. There, with a difference of one week, two boys drowned at the age of 5 years. In both cases, the children were left unattended by adults and drowned in water in relatively shallow pools (1.5 m). The administration of water parks was found guilty of the death of the kids.
In 2013, in Mytishchi, near Moscow, while swimming in the pool, a 9-year-old boy took off his life jacket and, left without parental supervision, went on an attraction intended for older people. Subsequently, he rolled over on an inflatable "bagel", on which it was necessary to slide off a water slide, and choked with water. Parents noticed the loss of the child a few minutes later. Unfortunately, this time was enough for the boy to die in the water park.
By the way, a year earlier, 5-year-old Kostya Shvedov drowned in the same Mytishchi. The tragedy occurred in the institution "Life Life", located in the elite sports complex. Water park accidents happen with frightening regularity. The death of people visiting such attractions was recorded in Taganrog, Novocherkassk, Chelyabinsk, Moscow, Kazan, Magnitogorsk.
"Complicated story
Despite the large number of deaths on water rides, the tragedy that occurred in 2007 in the water park of the city of Kazan should be singled out separately. There, a 13-year-old boy disappeared without a trace. Everyone was looking for him: parents, rescuers, administration and even divers. All water attractions and pools were examined, however, the boy fell through the ground. And only 3 weeks later, when the pump broke down in the water park, the mechanics went down to the technical department, where they opened the pipe and discovered a terrible find. In it were the remains of a boy.
A criminal case was opened on this fact, the investigation of which showed that the child was sucked into the collector of water intake of one of the attractions. It was found that the fluid velocity exceeded the permissible norm by 4 times. And the collector hole itself was not covered by a protective grill. Therefore, a criminal case was instituted. Then an ordinary employee of the water park, a locksmith, was brought to justice. He was sentenced to 2 years in prison with a sentence in a penal colony. However, the fact remains: the boy died in the water park in broad daylight.
Adrenaline or undue risk?
It is clear that statistics on deaths that have occurred in water parks are maintained. At the same time, it is impossible to find out how many people received injuries of varying severity when visiting water attractions. Accidents in water parks are often associated with bruising of the spine, concussion and fracture of the extremities. Often the cause of injuries is a wet floor, not equipped with a special anti-slip surface, as well as wet steps and ladders. In the vast majority of cases, visitors are injured while intoxicated. For example, in 2002, in a water park in the Moscow Region, a 40-year-old man died. He was too drunk. And while rolling down the hill, he choked on his own vomit.
It is rare that one of the visitors carefully reads the rules of conduct on the ride and listens to the safety instruction that is given by the employee. Guests do not think that a more responsible attitude towards themselves and others would reduce the sad statistics of accidents at water attractions. By the way, for each fact of harming the health and life of a citizen, a criminal case was opened in the water park. But in the vast majority of cases, the victims themselves were found guilty.
The highest slide in the water park
Despite the fact that in recent years a large number of water parks have appeared in Russia, the palm still belongs to foreign water attractions. For example, Brazil has the largest (50 meters) water slide in the world. The second largest is also located in this country. Its height is 41 meters. By the way, she is listed in the Guinness Book of Records, as the worst water attraction. At the same time, the longest slide (537 meters) is in America. But some of the most extreme slides are located in Australia. Exciting emotions can be obtained at crazy attractions in Japan and the UAE.
Foreign slides are more extreme. However, there the number of injuries and deaths of visitors is a rarity. This is usually associated with greater technical equipment and safety of attractions, responsible work of employees and administration of water parks, as well as vigilance and consciousness of guests. Unfortunately, things are much more complicated with this in Russia.
Summarizing
Water rides - fun, extreme and fun. However, so that their visit does not end in tragedy, it is worth strictly observing the safety rules on the slides, carefully listening to instructors and even more so not to be intoxicated on the territory of the facility. Well, parents should always remember that a water park is a place of increased danger. Therefore, you cannot leave your children unattended for a minute. Indeed, sometimes that very minute is enough for the baby’s life to end.