Are Six Flags Amusement Parks Safe?

Visiting an amusement park with your family can be an excellent way to spend the day. Six Flags parks are particularly appealing for families living in or visiting North America, since the franchise currently has twenty-seven locations open across the United States, Canada, and Mexico. Featuring a mixture of roller coasters, rides, and entertainment venues, the typical Six Flags park has more than enough activities to keep visitors of any age occupied for the day. 

However, despite the family-friendly nature of the Six Flags franchise, people may wonder whether it’s safe to visit one of the company’s amusement or water parks. According to a recent study on deaths at Six Flags parks by the Doan Law Firm, there have been a total of sixty-one fatalities at locations currently or previously managed by the franchise. In this article, we explore research on accidents at Six Flags parks and offer suggestions to help families enjoy a safe visit to their local amusement park. 

Which Six Flags Parks Are the Most Dangerous?

Theme parks should always meet reasonable safety standards to protect the wellbeing of employees and visitors alike. Unfortunately, even when a theme park abides by local, state, and governmental regulations and employees attempt to enforce park rules, accidents can still happen. As previously mentioned, there have been sixty-one deaths at Six Flags parks since the first location opened in 1961. We have included a breakdown of fatalities by individual parks in the chart below. Parks with “Hurricane Harbor” in their name have been abbreviated to “HH.”

Notable takeaways:

• Six Flags Great Adventure is the park with the highest number of individual deaths, at thirteen
• Seven parks, including three of the Hurricane Harbor water parks, have each had one fatality during their years of operation
• There are multiple locations that have never had a reported fatal accident, including: Six Flags Fiesta Texas, Six Flags White Water, Six Flags México, Six Flags Great Escape, Frontier City, and Six Flags Hurricane Harbor Rockford

What Are the Greatest Hazards at Theme Parks?

There are a number of unsafe conditions that can put theme park patrons or employees at risk of serious harm or even death. Although amusement parks have a responsibility not to endanger lives with deadly attractions or poorly-trained staff, you should nonetheless remain alert to any potential threats that may put you or a loved one at risk. Possible hazards can include:

• Dangerous or defective rides: Some amusement park rides and attractions have some inherent risk to them. Even when riders use their seat restraints correctly and follow the posted rules of a given roller coaster or attraction, there is always the risk of injuries occurring as people are jostled about. Always be sure to follow a ride’s height and weight limits and never go on an attraction that makes you feel nervous or in fear for your wellbeing.
• Negligent park employees: Ride operators and other employees should be well-trained to reduce the risks to park visitors. When a park employee does not follow their training, is distracted on the job, or is intoxicated while operating attractions, serious injuries can occur. You should always report any employee that is behaving strangely or is not focused on their work, as a lapse in concentration can have catastrophic consequences.
• A lack of supervision: While at any amusement park, it is essential to keep a close eye on any children in your party. Kids are prone to wander and may put themselves in dangerous situations. Leaving a child unsupervised on a ride is particularly dangerous, as they are likely paying less attention to their own safety than the responsible adults of their party.
• Failure to comply with safety standards: Most U.S. states have specific safety standards that must be met by amusement park rides. As an example, theme parks are almost always required to schedule routine ride inspections to ensure that no safety concerns are discovered. It’s always a good idea to verify that the theme park you’re planning on visiting is compliant with regulatory requirements.

Common Amusement Park Injuries

A trip to the local amusement park can result in a surprising range of injuries, ranging from mild scrapes and bruises to fatal harm. Some of the most common injuries suffered at amusement and water parks include:

• Broken bones or fractures
• Head, neck, or spinal injuries
• Brain injuries
• Drowning 
• Heat stroke, heat exhaustion, or other weather-related illnesses
• Cuts, scrapes, and bruises
• Nerve damage
• Soft tissue injuries
• Blunt force injuries

Many accidents resulting in fatalities at amusement parks occur when the victim falls from a considerable height or is harmed by a defective ride part. Drowning is also a prevalent risk, particularly at water parks. 

Staying Safe During Your Next Visit to Six Flags

In most cases, you and your loved ones should be perfectly safe during your next trip to a Six Flags property. To further increase your chances of having an incident-free experience, be sure to keep a close eye on your party members and stay alert for suspicious behavior. Report any unsafe rides or conduct you notice as soon as possible. Always obey posted signs and the verbal commands of park employees.

A day at Six Flags is typically long, and standing in lines for hours in hot weather can increase the risk of developing heat exhaustion or heatstroke. Be sure to stay hydrated and eat throughout the day to keep your energy up. By remaining alert and taking care of your physical needs, you protect yourself from avoidable injuries and health concerns.