Great America Will Change Its Signs (subtitle: girl chokes to death on ride with taffy in her mouth)

Daily Herald (newspaper serving the NW/W Chicago metro area) ^ | May 06, 2003 | Madhu Krishnamurthy Daily Herald Staff Writer

[NotJustAnotherPrettyFace]

Starting today, Six Flags Great America visitors will see signs throughout the amusement park prohibiting them from eating gum, candy and other foods while on rides.

The new restrictions come two days after the death of an 11-year-old Gary, Ind. girl who choked on a piece of taffy while riding the Raging Bull roller-coaster.

Officials at the Gurnee amusement park say signs had been in place at some rides with a more general warning forbidding "food and drinks."

"We are now making sure that (signs) will be at every single ride at the park," spokeswoman Susie Storey said Monday.

No sign was in place at the Raging Bull when Erica Emmons choked to death Saturday.

Initially after the tragedy, park officials claimed signs were posted along the queue lines for the roller coaster, but later retracted that statement.

"There are no signs restricting food and beverages at that particular roller coaster," Storey said.

Six Flags acknowledged the mistake in a written statement adding, "we regret any pain this miscommunication may have caused the Emmons family. This type of tragedy has never occurred at Six Flags Great America. Our employees were understandably shaken and distracted in dealing with the event and this likely led to the miscommunication."

Erica's family refused to comment on the girl's death or the decision by Six Flags to change signs in the park.

Park officials said the circumstances that led to Erica's death forced them to expand the number of signs and include gum and candy in the restrictions.

Visitors also cannot have any unsecured personal items onboard the rides. They will not be allowed to board a ride if they are eating and will be asked to finish the food or set it down.

Food will continue to be sold to customers standing in line waiting to board a ride. Operators will be responsible for not allowing anyone with food in their mouth or hands to enter a ride car.

"Our operators have been trained and they will continue to (stop riders) so that people do not get on with loose items in their hand," Storey said. "We are going to do all that we can to make sure that it's never an issue again."

Employees worked Monday to install the more restrictive signs, and officials promise all signs will be changed by the time Six Flags opens today.

[NotJustAnotherPrettyFace]

Parents aren't always around - for ex. the local park district offers a camp for adolescents in which one day of camp is a trip to Great America. So that basically means that there would be one camp counselor (probably a teenager themselves or a college-age kid) in charge of monitoring a group of typically 6-8 kids. Similarly, our high school band went to Great America on a field trip as a reward for our hard efforts at an intensive week-long marching workshop to prepare for the season. We ran around in pairs, packs, etc. There were about 5 parent chaperones on that trip for a 90-member band. Needless to say, we were NOT monitored for gum-chewing on rides.

[NotJustAnotherPrettyFace]

Oh, I very much agree with you. But I would wonder just how many kids (pre-teens, adolescents) are wandering around these parks without their parents or an adult chaperone in the immediate vicinity.

[stainlessbanner]

signs, signs, everywhere there's signs....

[NotJustAnotherPrettyFace]

By the way, I wouldn't say that you're an "overprotective mom". How about "mom with common sense"?! ;-)

[MissAmericanPie]

You have a point, but it's not a good idea to let younger kids just roam around with older siblings or friends. It puts a responsibility on the older ones that they are not mature enough to handle in an emergency.

Of course your talking to a woman that ruined the families summer vacation in Florida by standing on the beach with a pair of binoculars looking for sharks while the kids swam, hahaha.

[Freedom4US]

It's not a matter of them reading the signs, just a matter of covering their ass in the most expeditious manner, to try and deflect all the ammunition that will be fired their way in the inevitable $6.3 billion lawsuit that will soon follow. Lawyers have fairly ruined this country.

[twigs]

I worked at an amusement park for four years during the summer when in high school and college. We had signs forbidding food and drink on rides. I can't imagine that this park didn't. Kids will be kids, however, and do not think of candy and gum as food. I am really astounded that this park continued to sell food while people were in line. I'm sure we didn't because the operators didn't want it coming back up. You'd be surprised what happens on these rides! Ugh.

[Baseballguy]

This is the problem. We as parents need to watch our little ones. Even under our own eyes they do the wrong things.

The only solution is we hope the choices they make have been ground by our instructions as they grow. Part time parenting is not an option.

[Ciexyz]

I'm told that amusement park workers hate the "vomit detail", when they have to clean up after rides. These workers have a lot of responsibility: they have to make sure the kids are all buckled in, etc. Now they have to inspect each kid to see if they have gum in their mouth?

[NotJustAnotherPrettyFace]

This is a picture of the opening drop of this ride:

[NotJustAnotherPrettyFace]

The Raging Bull is a "hyper-twister" as theme park lingo goes.

[aruanan]

What if the parents aren't around to keep an eye on the kids?

Parents who let 11-year-olds run around by themselves all over an amusement park are stupid parents.

[biblewonk]

Stupid comment.

[twigs]

There's no way that they can check each child's mouth. But they can remind each group that goes in that they should put anything in their mouth in the trash can which should be at the entrance. We had several near-fatal injuries; I can assure you that the operators will do whatever they reasonably can to avoid it. Yes, patrons, whether children or adults, do have responsibility too. Liability is such that parks must take all reasonable care.

[Zavien Doombringer]

I feel sorry for the family but I will not feel sorry for them if they sue.

I don't know how far it will go, but have you looked at the back of any theme park ticket? There is a disclaimer that by purchasing the ticket and admitance into the park relieves all liability from the park and that rides are "AT YOUR OWN RISK". I am sorry at the loss for this family. But sueing the theme park for negligence of the parent or child isn't right.

[Zavien Doombringer]

the "vomit detail"

I had that working for the airlines...it isn't fun and you end up cleaning your own too...

[ChemistCat]

Oh, I agree with you. But as long as someone else can be financially liable (with punitive damages) for OUR stupid mistakes, this is how it'll be.

Besides, this particular case--it doesn't seem THAT stupid to me. She didn't think about her gum, that's all. She probably did almost everything with gum in her mouth, and only gave it a thought when someone ELSE told her to take it out. I bet half of us would need a sign, in this case.

I burned my husband's emergency brake up the first time I drove his Jeep. I thought that was just a Jeep thing until the smell got strong enough to clue me in that something bad was going on. The brake lever hadn't gone all the way down but I didn't know it. Stupid? Yeah, sort of, but not a very high threshold of stupidity, I hope.

[Osage Orange]

This reminds me of Foxworthy's..."Here's your sign..!!" bit.

FWIW--

[Coop]

But as long as someone else can be financially liable (with punitive damages) for OUR stupid mistakes, this is how it'll be.

Yes indeed. You're right. The girl made an honest mistake that most of us could/would have made. And tragically she paid with her life.

[CobaltBlue]

Choking to death on taffy isn't something I, personally, would have considered likely on a roller coaster. I love roller coasters, have no idea whether I ever rode one with something in my mouth.

Something more to warn the kids about. Oh, I guess I should also say "no eating in the car" because you might get in a wreck and choke to death on your food. There goes the takeout food industry!

Seems more like a freak accident rather than something foreseeable to me.