Summer Carnivals

“Two nights ago I took my sons to the local festival that we go to every year in Highland. The three of us rode a few rides like the Tilt-A-Whirl and the Scrambler. While riding them, I told the boys that I would never let them ride certain rides at traveling carnivals since I didn't trust the carnies who set them up and operate them. I am worried about safety of course.

Well, this morning the headline in the local paper is that a 9-year-old boy was killed at that very festival last night when he fell from one of the very rides I had pointed out to Tucker the night before. I can hardly believe it. My heart absolutely goes out to the family.”

“wow ruby I hadnt heard about that! Thats so sad :(”

“Well, now maybe he'll listen a little closer to what Mom says.

(That's tragic. I just get "flip" when the going gets tough)”

“Yikes Ruby--
IHow sad for that family. What rides are you talking about?

I LOVE the scrambler-- that was my favorite ride as a kid, as well as one called the "moon ride" (sort of a mini-rollercoaster where you go up a tube and then the track winds around the tube and down in a spiral...)

I could never ride the tilt-a-whirl--the twirling makes me nauseous...”

“My mom would never let us ride any travelling carnival rides when we were kids.

I've heard since that they're supposedly safer than stationary park rides because they're taken down and put up so often parts are tighter and things are checked more carefully, more often. I have my doubts though and still don't go.
What a horrible way to lose a child!”

“I saw a show on Discovery about the rides at theme parks.......they said the Georgia Cyclone is inspected every night, for loose nuts & bolts and things like that....I would trust a place like that any day over a carnival......I have been going to Cedar Point in Sandusky, Ohio for years, and have never heard of anything bad happening....”