Ride operators at theme park.

[itsgettingweird]

So went to a theme park today with ds and his friends.

It was a lovely day and very quiet compared to usual visits this time of year.

I don't do lots of rides - I'm happy to bag sit!

But use a few and tend to do my favourite 2-3 times.

The last time we went on this ride today the operator was checking the seat belts. This is usual. Then didn't even look or communicate with me but pushed the overhead barrier down so hard I couldn't get a proper breath in and it's left one of my nipples very sore (bruised?)

Ds and I were both waving to get the attention of attendants but they didn't notice and by the time I got to the end I was really dizzy from struggling to breathe and the pain in my breast (I'm not exactly huge!)

As I got off the ride I went more dizzy so sat down on the step. Ds explained to the man about the breathing and his advice?

"If you need first aid there's a centre at x point" (over 300m away from where I was sat unable to stand up.

I did retort if I was well enough to stand up I wouldn't need to walk to first aid.

I reported to park management team wandering around but he said he can't do anything. To which I said - well he could report it but I'll be emailing because both situations were unacceptable and I know it's not the norm as I visit a lot and use that ride a lot.

I guess not really AIBU because I'm not - but I guess am I being unreasonable to think that's bad training re sending people almost passed out alone to walk to first aid?

Interesting - as yes, you are right.

And even more interesting because the other operator DS side was on back row (we were second to back) as she rammed it down hard and moved on.

I really hope this wasn't some game. But it if was it may explain why they were reluctant to call for help (which I didn't need I just needed the dizziness to pass).

My breasts were so swished down again my chest that when I tried to breathe in properly I couldn't because of the restriction.

It's quite worrying the lack of intelligence of lots of posters here that they really can't work out what restricting chest movement actually is or means.

It's really not rocket science

I'd encourage you both to report this. Perhaps one seat has a fault with the mechanism so that it comes down too tight when pushed. If 5, 10 or 20 people all report the same issue on a ride with different operators, then even something hard to identify like this should certainly be picked up by health and safety reviews. If it's always the same operator, then a training issue can be picked up. It doesn't need to be a dramatic complaint, it's just raising attention to a possible issue.

First rule of good customer service is to ask the customer what they want.

In that situation what did you want, op? I ask that genuinely as it's not clear from the thread - did you want them to radio a first aider? Did you want the ride operator to stop the ride?

What do you want now? An apology? An investigation? What is it you need from the theme park and from this thread?

I just wanted a second to stop feeling dizzy and move on.

Whilst I was trying to do this the ride attendant kept telling me he needed to close the gates and if I needed first aid - where it was.

He didn't ask if I was ok or needed medical attention but if he did I'd have said the same as I did.

I want them to train staff better to a) not shove bars down really tight - especially without warning whilst your not even acknowledging the rider so they can expect it and b) to have some basic knowledge such as not trying to stand up dizzy people and make them walk 300m.

There is nothing else to be done. But that situation could be worse next time and it isn't right imo to put someone else in that situation knowingly.

It wasn't him who pulled the bar down. It was the girl the other side.

I used to be a ride operator.
Just because the public are a nightmare to deal with doesn't mean you can go round winding them.

Let me train you!!!!!!

Your vocal chords are in your throat. They don't need much air to be able to work.

Your lungs are in your chest. They need a deeper breath to be able to function properly and get oxygen around your body.

Hope this helps.

Yes. It was.

Quite a few here have said exactly the same.

Definitely confirms I need to highlight it.

I went on it 3 times yesterday and this was the 3rd time.

I've been on it 11 times this year and the first 10 we're not like this and neither were any times the precious decade I've used this park.

She explained why. She got hurt in the process. That is not normal practice.

Last week someone fell to their death (can't remember which country) because they slipped out of the overhead harness. It needs to be tight. There's a particular issue with shared bar type restraints where one person in the section is bigger than the other (my DD's are skinny I am not!) and the bar is locked very tight on me unlike if I'm riding with dp. Better tight than a tragedy

You said you were fine. You were able to get up and go for coffee. You "couldn't get a breath in" but were able to laugh and talk to your child about "going down a cup size"

Your reaction is unbelievably OTT..

I'm guessing the 'theme' of the park is Arrogant Bastard World?

There’s a lot of very harsh replies here!

So OP was fine after she’d stayed sitting down for a bit. That’s great.

The ride operator though, is presumably not qualified to make an instant medical diagnosis on seeing a person come off the ride complaining of breathlessness and being too dizzy to stand up.
There should be some sort of standard operating procedure that tells ride operators to summon a first aider in this sort of situation.

Just in case the dizzy, breathless person is having a medical emergency, like a heart attack or whatever.

@gogohmm did you read the part in which the op explained that she has ridden this ride several times before and that hadn’t happened previously?
Also, my children and I have all ridden it several times but only encountered this once.
Whilst queuing in the disability line I heard them laughing and boasting who’d got the barriers down quickest again.

So you thing George Floyd and Michael McDonagh were just having a laugh when they were able to tell people they couldn’t breath, but then were somehow in extraordinary and completely unrelated events, impacted by the constricting weight on their chests?

They did this to my six year old last year, slammed it down hard because they were racing to see which could get the barriers down first. Left him winded.

As it's the same ride, OP report it, and maybe any other posters who've experienced it. They're in charge of a ride including the safety side, racing to see who can put the barriers down is not ensuring safety is kept. If they fail to do it properly because they are rushing, someone could get seriously hurt or worse. As it is, people are being hurt by doing it too forcefully. Yes barriers will need to be put down to ensure they are locked, but there are ways to do it to not hurt someone. How's the bruise this morning OP?

This. Massive over reaction to an operator making sure the safety harness was properly locked in.

I pretty much thought Vampire Ride as well! CHessington can be awful (see my issue earlier).

I have had similar on it as well though not as bad

Some of the people replying seem to be personally offended by this, can’t believe how nasty a few of the replies have been!

Firstly, you should be able to get a ride operator’s attention before a ride starts. People change their minds about going on, people can take ill- physically or mentally before the ride starts. People can be IN PAIN from the restraints before a ride starts. Not being able to get anyone’s attention at all is bad practice.

I go to theme parks a lot. I went on a ride recently that made me feel really ill and freaked out when it normally doesn’t, and when I got off, the staff were incredible. They got me to sit down, they asked if I wanted some water, they said would I like to go somewhere quieter and they’d take me, then asked if I’d like any medical attention called. I didn’t NEED any of these things but someone else may have, so it was amazing to see that they have customer safely and comfort as their priority - which it has to be.

Other times the restraints have hurt my stomach where I’ve previously had surgery and the operators have been so respectful and told me it has to go a bit tighter to be safe and that if I’m in pain not to ride. No one has ever been rude about it, and I’ve ALWAYS been able to get someone’s attention if needed. I’ve also never encountered someone harshly slamming a restraint down without even looking at the rider. That is not standard practice.

Not being able to breathe properly is a terrifying thing, and yes you can still talk even if your breath is restricted. I find it so odd that some people on here are absolutely certain that the OP must have had a panic attack instead of a physiological response to pressure on her chest.

Finally, I’ve just read it confirmed it was the Vampire ride. I haven’t been on that myself, however anecdotally I’ve been told it’s a painful ride due to the restraints, so maybe this is something they need to address. Other rides generally aren’t painful or cause bruises from the restraints.

OP - I get it, and I hope you feel better asap. Please do let them know about you experience.

I wasn't breathless when I came off the ride. The instant the barrier was released I was fine.

I'm not sure why I suddenly felt dizzy. It was a good 10 seconds after dismounting the ride and I was getting my bags.

But I certainly wasn't able to stand and climb a flight of stairs and I think the 5yos I teach would realise someone sat down and dizzy wasn't safe to stand up!

Although I've never in all my years of being in schools nearly passed out to test that theory 🤣

So you thing George Floyd and Michael McDonagh were just having a laugh when they were able to tell people they couldn’t breath, but then were somehow in extraordinary and completely unrelated events, impacted by the constricting weight on their chests?

Yes it's a massive misconception that being able to speak means you can breathe. Vocal chords need less air than your lungs due to position.

Positional asphyxia causes death - as in the cases you mentioned.

Although I'm 100% sure I wasn't close to that point at anytime during this

Exactly, you were fine so no need for the drama. The operator was right to get you to move so they could shut the safety gate You didn't need to walk to first aid, just to stay still foe a nit away from the ride

Justdont sorry you've had an experience like that and glad you felt cared for.
The reason ds and I haven't visited this summer so far is because I had a hysterectomy 2 months ago and was aware of the barrier on the stomach area (I had laparoscopic and was back at work after 3 weeks as fine) and wanted to wait past the 6 weeks (gave it 8) just to be sure it wouldn't cause me any discomfort.

So you are right that those of use that visit expect someone level of pressure but there is a limit!

To the poster that mentioned vampire being uncomfortable generally. I've never experienced that. I actually find it enjoyable and always feel safe with the seat pommel, barrier and seat belt.

It's one of the few rides I use - hence why I always take a friend for ds so he has someone to ride with!

What worries me is that your DS tried to get their attention before the ride had gone. Imagine if he'd been trying to say that you weren't secured properly!!

I often think how quick it all happens due to there being such huge queues for the rides, years ago it seemed that more time was taken checking everyone. There seems to be teenagers running these parks these days and there'll be an accident before too long.

@RedHelenB did you just decide to selectively ignore the part where the OP states her son is physically disabled and has ASD and is clearly unable to summon assistance from first aid by himself?
You don't get to be this callous without reading the full story.