The San Antonio Express-News discovered the reporting habits of San Antonio theme parks by comparing ambulance calls at the parks with injury reports filed with the state. Emergency Medical Service records show that at least 30 cases of possible fractures and painful neck injuries that occurred at Fiesta Texas were not reported to the state. A mysterious drowning, a death in a wave pool and more than 80 precautionary ambulance transports since 1992 were not reported to the Insurance Department. We're just hoping everybody reports. Theme park operators note that, statistically, thrill ride victims make up a fraction of the millions of visitors who take the rides.
Some enthusiasts safely ride roller coasters hundreds of times.
An estimated 9,200 people were treated in emergency rooms nationwide last year because of amusement ride injuries, according to the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission. Theme parks annually draw about 300 million visitors. Fiesta Texas this year drew 2.4 million visitors, a 68 percent increase over 1998. It was the largest theme park increase in the country, according to the trade magazine Amusement Business. Va. Corporate owners of San Antonio's amusement parks say they take great strides to ensure safety.