Something About Aqua Parks’ Reality
A well-spent summertime is incomplete without trips to your favourite aqua parks; and why not? The thrilling water slides, splash pads, swimming pools, water playgrounds, bodyboarding facilities like a wave pool, artificial surfing, delicious on-site food, strict cleanliness, and hygiene standards are some of the key expectations one has from an “ideal” aqua park.
There are more than 1200 aqua parks in the United States, visited by over 85 million people every year. Due to an increasing number of visitors every year, the expectations we hold from an aqua park often come out different than the reality.
The crowded swimming pools, unclear water, long queues on water slides, not-so-clean shower facilities, limited food options, park restrictions for clothing and eating, and above all, a high entrance cost, or anything in between, is often our expectation-wrecker.
Therefore, we feel that before planning your next aqua park visit, it is important to know about the place beforehand so that yours and your kids' expectations are not hurt.
1. Aqua Park Safety -Expectation Vs. Reality
Expectation: 100% safe water slides and 24/7 availability of rescue guards and emergency team.
Reality: Accidents can still happen; rescue & emergency aid availability may not be timely.
Being a kid, an aqua park, despite its shortcomings, will still be a fascinating entertaining place. However, being an adult, it might not be as exciting. There might be various dangers and terrible secrets lurking at your nearby aqua park.
For instance, you might experience a type of chlorine-resistant bacteria, or water slide injuries including concussions, scrapes, spinal damage, and broken limbs. Though there is no official record available regarding overall aqua-park injuries, as per one news source, over 4200, on average, are taken to the emergency every year, under the aqua park injuries. This data is exclusive of the incidents involving lifeguard rescues.
So, the next time when you see an aqua park’s slogan “We are 100% safe”, don’t expect the same; as reality is different. In many cases, even emergency aid is not available on time as it is not practically possible for the administration to cover the whole crowd with a handful of rescue team members.
What is the solution?
The only way to avoid such accidents at the aqua park is to be careful all the time and look out for your safety.
2. How Much is the Water Clean? – Expectations Vs. Reality
Expectation: Chemical treatments keep water germs-free and clean.
Reality: Excessive exposure to chlorine causes skin irritation, skin burn or even chlorine poisoning.
One of the key motivations for health-conscious aqua park visitors is the chemically treated water in the pools and pads. Though chlorine is mandatory at aqua parks to disinfect water, excessive exposure may cause chlorine poisoning. People accidentally inhaling or consuming the fumes and chemicals have been found to get hospitalized with serous skin itchiness, eye irritation, lung irritation, and bruises. Because of an acidic, excessive level of chlorine can also lead to corroded metal piping and concrete surfaces of the pools; another factor to cause aqua park injuries.
So, the next time you feel skin irritation or burning eyes in an aqua park, know that it might be because of that chlorine-treated water. It’s a burn at the swimming pool, and not from the sun.
What is the solution?
Prep your skin with skin protectant or barrier creams containing almond, avocado, or coconut oil. These light barriers prevent the skin to absorb chlorinated water.
3. Concessions – Expectations Vs. Reality
Expectation: Most of the people take care of aqua park’s hygiene SOPs.
Reality: A significant percentage of people pee in the pools.
Most of us pacify ourselves that only a minimal percentage of people pee in the pool. The reality is shockingly different. One of the surveys showed that 17 percent of people pee in the pool, while 47 percent confessed other unhygienic behaviours in the pools. The disgusting habits of people in the pool are surely not we expect from an aqua park, but it is the reality.
What is the solution?
Take shower before and after using the pool or water slides with disinfectant soap.
A well-spent summertime is incomplete without trips to your favourite aqua parks; and why not? The thrilling water slides, splash pads, swimming pools, water playgrounds, bodyboarding facilities like a wave pool, artificial surfing, delicious on-site food, strict cleanliness, and hygiene standards are some of the key expectations one has from an “ideal” aqua park.
There are more than 1200 aqua parks in the United States, visited by over 85 million people every year. Due to an increasing number of visitors every year, the expectations we hold from an aqua park often come out different than the reality.
The crowded swimming pools, unclear water, long queues on water slides, not-so-clean shower facilities, limited food options, park restrictions for clothing and eating, and above all, a high entrance cost, or anything in between, is often our expectation-wrecker.
Therefore, we feel that before planning your next aqua park visit, it is important to know about the place beforehand so that yours and your kids' expectations are not hurt.
1. Aqua Park Safety -Expectation Vs. Reality
Expectation: 100% safe water slides and 24/7 availability of rescue guards and emergency team.
Reality: Accidents can still happen; rescue & emergency aid availability may not be timely.
Being a kid, an aqua park, despite its shortcomings, will still be a fascinating entertaining place. However, being an adult, it might not be as exciting. There might be various dangers and terrible secrets lurking at your nearby aqua park.
For instance, you might experience a type of chlorine-resistant bacteria, or water slide injuries including concussions, scrapes, spinal damage, and broken limbs. Though there is no official record available regarding overall aqua-park injuries, as per one news source, over 4200, on average, are taken to the emergency every year, under the aqua park injuries. This data is exclusive of the incidents involving lifeguard rescues.
So, the next time when you see an aqua park’s slogan “We are 100% safe”, don’t expect the same; as reality is different. In many cases, even emergency aid is not available on time as it is not practically possible for the administration to cover the whole crowd with a handful of rescue team members.
What is the solution?
The only way to avoid such accidents at the aqua park is to be careful all the time and look out for your safety.
2. How Much is the Water Clean? – Expectations Vs. Reality
Expectation: Chemical treatments keep water germs-free and clean.
Reality: Excessive exposure to chlorine causes skin irritation, skin burn or even chlorine poisoning.
One of the key motivations for health-conscious aqua park visitors is the chemically treated water in the pools and pads. Though chlorine is mandatory at aqua parks to disinfect water, excessive exposure may cause chlorine poisoning. People accidentally inhaling or consuming the fumes and chemicals have been found to get hospitalized with serous skin itchiness, eye irritation, lung irritation, and bruises. Because of an acidic, excessive level of chlorine can also lead to corroded metal piping and concrete surfaces of the pools; another factor to cause aqua park injuries.
So, the next time you feel skin irritation or burning eyes in an aqua park, know that it might be because of that chlorine-treated water. It’s a burn at the swimming pool, and not from the sun.
What is the solution?
Prep your skin with skin protectant or barrier creams containing almond, avocado, or coconut oil. These light barriers prevent the skin to absorb chlorinated water.
3. Concessions – Expectations Vs. Reality
Expectation: Most of the people take care of aqua park’s hygiene SOPs.
Reality: A significant percentage of people pee in the pools.
Most of us pacify ourselves that only a minimal percentage of people pee in the pool. The reality is shockingly different. One of the surveys showed that 17 percent of people pee in the pool, while 47 percent confessed other unhygienic behaviours in the pools. The disgusting habits of people in the pool are surely not we expect from an aqua park, but it is the reality.
What is the solution?
Take shower before and after using the pool or water slides with disinfectant soap.
4. Lifeguards - Expectations Vs. Reality
Expectation: Lifeguards are responsible to take care of your kids in the pool.
Reality: Lifeguards are not your babysitters.
More than 50 percent of the parents expect that lifeguards are responsible to take care of their kids in an aqua park. The reality is that nobody more than parents is responsible to look out a child in the water. You cannot expect a lifeguard to act like daycare. A lifeguard's responsibility is to ensure rules compliance, safety measures, and rescue. The lifeguards are not responsible for the drowning of someone if they have abided by all the protocols.
What is the solution?
Don’t leave your kids at the back of lifeguards. Watch them over yourselves. If you are not sure of any safety measure, ask lifeguards for advice.
5. Wave Pools – Expectations Vs. Reality
Expectation: Wave pools are all fun.
Reality: These are way riskier than you think.
Though wave pools are just a few feet deep and make a fun activity, kids are still susceptible too drowning in the shallow water. An action-oriented wave pool is much more dangerous than an ordinary swimming pool. As per one news source, the New Jersey’s park’s wave pool was named as Grave pool, being a sire of three casualties in between 1982 and 1987. Though the park remained open, yet it was remodelled radically.
What is the solution?
Accompany with your kids in wave pools and follow all precautionary measures. Using a life jacket is often recommended to avoid accidents.
6. On-site food – Expectations Vs. Reality
Expectation: Delicious, hygienic food with lots of variety.
Reality: Limited options; mostly quick junk food merely wrapped in paper packaging; highly-priced.
The last time I visited one aqua park, could barely found an average quality hot dog with a glimpse of sauce and not-so-chilled coke. The park administration seemed not to focus on or encourage eating within the park premises. However, many aqua parks appear to offer only a limited variety of food; most of them offer quick-to-made or ready-made junk food. The worst part is that prices are unusually higher, after adding all those amusement taxes!
What is the solution?
Prepare your hygienic meals at home to take at the aqua park. Choose the meals that can safely be stored in the lockers, don't require to be refrigerated. Options include simple hotdog sandwiches, potato crisps, lemonade bottles, pretzels, bagels, cream biscuits, noodles.
Expectation: Lifeguards are responsible to take care of your kids in the pool.
Reality: Lifeguards are not your babysitters.
More than 50 percent of the parents expect that lifeguards are responsible to take care of their kids in an aqua park. The reality is that nobody more than parents is responsible to look out a child in the water. You cannot expect a lifeguard to act like daycare. A lifeguard's responsibility is to ensure rules compliance, safety measures, and rescue. The lifeguards are not responsible for the drowning of someone if they have abided by all the protocols.
What is the solution?
Don’t leave your kids at the back of lifeguards. Watch them over yourselves. If you are not sure of any safety measure, ask lifeguards for advice.
5. Wave Pools – Expectations Vs. Reality
Expectation: Wave pools are all fun.
Reality: These are way riskier than you think.
Though wave pools are just a few feet deep and make a fun activity, kids are still susceptible too drowning in the shallow water. An action-oriented wave pool is much more dangerous than an ordinary swimming pool. As per one news source, the New Jersey’s park’s wave pool was named as Grave pool, being a sire of three casualties in between 1982 and 1987. Though the park remained open, yet it was remodelled radically.
What is the solution?
Accompany with your kids in wave pools and follow all precautionary measures. Using a life jacket is often recommended to avoid accidents.
6. On-site food – Expectations Vs. Reality
Expectation: Delicious, hygienic food with lots of variety.
Reality: Limited options; mostly quick junk food merely wrapped in paper packaging; highly-priced.
The last time I visited one aqua park, could barely found an average quality hot dog with a glimpse of sauce and not-so-chilled coke. The park administration seemed not to focus on or encourage eating within the park premises. However, many aqua parks appear to offer only a limited variety of food; most of them offer quick-to-made or ready-made junk food. The worst part is that prices are unusually higher, after adding all those amusement taxes!
What is the solution?
Prepare your hygienic meals at home to take at the aqua park. Choose the meals that can safely be stored in the lockers, don't require to be refrigerated. Options include simple hotdog sandwiches, potato crisps, lemonade bottles, pretzels, bagels, cream biscuits, noodles.
The Final Thoughts
In the end, aqua parks are the homes of endless fun, making yours and your kids' summertime fun, enjoyable, and interesting. Go for the parks that are both kid and parent-oriented so your whole family can enjoy the thrill. We would say that whether it is an adventurous run down one of the water slides, or a splash in a zero-depth child's pool or a relaxing trip around the lazy river, there is something for everyone at aqua parks.
At the same time, knowing the aqua park realities, as stated in this article, will only help you enjoy better. Summer is on the peak. Plan your aqua park trips with confidence, with a balance between your expectations and reality. Most importantly, don’t forget to read the rules as water slides are the key cause of injuries at water parks. So, always follow the ride directions to keep your trip safe and enjoyable.
In the end, aqua parks are the homes of endless fun, making yours and your kids' summertime fun, enjoyable, and interesting. Go for the parks that are both kid and parent-oriented so your whole family can enjoy the thrill. We would say that whether it is an adventurous run down one of the water slides, or a splash in a zero-depth child's pool or a relaxing trip around the lazy river, there is something for everyone at aqua parks.
At the same time, knowing the aqua park realities, as stated in this article, will only help you enjoy better. Summer is on the peak. Plan your aqua park trips with confidence, with a balance between your expectations and reality. Most importantly, don’t forget to read the rules as water slides are the key cause of injuries at water parks. So, always follow the ride directions to keep your trip safe and enjoyable.
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