PROVO — Some safety experts are calling for more regulation after several incidents across the nation involving water slides and amusement park rides.

Family and friends on Friday held a funeral for the 10-year-old boy killed on a water slide at the Schlitterbahn Water Park in Kansas, on Sunday.

Thursday, a 3-year-old boy was airlifted to a hospital after falling out of a roller coaster in Pennsylvania. And three children are still recovering after they fell out of a Ferris wheel at a county fair in Tennessee earlier in the week.

Across the country, 24 states have extensive government regulations over amusement park rides.

"It can vary from state to state or locality to locality," said Deborah Hersman, president and CEO of the National Safety Council.

Eleven states have minimum requirements but leave oversight to the private sector; nine more states have partial oversight of rides; and six states, including Utah, have no regulations at all.

"We need consistent regulations, consistent standards across the board," said Ken Martin, an amusement ride safety analyst.

Seven Peaks

At Seven Peaks Waterpark in Provo, parent Kenielle Kearl of West Jordan said she wants safety first for her children. She plans ahead to keep her kids safe at the water park.

"We have two of you always together. You can have three, but I always at least want two of you together, and always know where you're going," she explained.

She also pays attention to height and age requirements, even when her kids don't agree.

"My kids are always like, 'Maybe if I put napkins in my shoes I'll be taller to go on the ride.' I'm like, 'No, that's there for a reason,'" she said.

When it comes to rides, Seven Peaks does not have any attractions that blend roller coasters and water slides, like the one in Kansas City where a boy died on a 168-foot slide — dubbed the world's largest — that uses rafts and Velcro seat belts.

At Seven Peaks, safety is the first priority in the pools and on the slides, according to Krista Goeringer, the park's safety director.

"We haven't had a death at either park since we've been involved," she said. "Our maintenance crew inspects them daily, walks the slides, checks for anything that's abnormal. We also have our EMT who checks the slide towers and communications equipment."

Even though no state agency is responsible for water parks or amusement parks in Utah, local health departments step in when it comes to water quality.

"They check the safety of the water and all the surrounding areas around the pools," Goeringer explained.

She urged parents to be aware of where their children are while visiting the park.

"So, if they are good swimmers, have a meeting spot so that the kids know where to come back and check in with their parents," she suggested.

Lagoon

Roller coasters are also in the news after a 3-year-old boy was rushed to the hospital after falling off a ride in Pennsylvania.

At Lagoon in Farmington, spokesman Adam Leishman said advanced safety measures are in place for everything from classic rides to brand new thrills like Cannibal.

"Lagoon is in the business of fun, but safety is our No. one priority. We have an excellent safety record and we stand by our rides," he said.

All of Lagoon's attractions undergo three individual inspections each day before operation, Leishman said. Additionally, Lagoon belongs to the International Association of Amusement Parks and Attractions. "They go through and inspect the park (each year), as well as each attraction," Leishman said.

Even without state oversight, Lagoon has not had a major incident since 1989, when two people died on two different rides.

The first incident happened in April of that year when a 6-year-old boy died on the children's roller coaster "Puff the Little Fire Dragon." Investigators said the boy came out of his restraint, fell through the tracks and was hit by the cars. The park installed additional restraints following the death.

In June of that same year, a 13-year-old girl slipped out of the restraint on the White Roller Coaster and fell 35 feet to her death.

In both cases the rides were closed while investigations took place and improvements were made. Lagoon has not had any deaths or major injuries since then.

Park officials say the best advice for parents is to make sure children follow all height, weight and age requirements, and not let kids ride if they can't obey the rules.

A 2013 study showed an annual average of 4,423 injuries nationwide related to amusement rides, which included rides at amusement parks, fairs, and rides found at local malls, stores, restaurants or arcades. It noted 20 injuries daily from May through September — the parks' busiest times — CNN reported.

The study used Consumer Product Safety Commission information on children and teens who were taken to emergency rooms for amusement ride injuries over 20 years.

Injuries considered serious made up a small percentage.

Contributing: CNN

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