Just Another Day at Sea World

Friday was the last day of school for the children here, and all 3 of mine did excellent this past year. Two of them are now moving on to Middle School, and my smallest moves on to the next grade in Elementary. Since the school year came to a great end, we decided to take the kids to Sea World Orlando on Saturday, just to have some fun.

It has been very hot here recently, and the temperature on the ground was well over 100 degrees. We started off early and the kids got touch and feed the dolphins, something they all were wanting to do. After lunch we headed for the kids park inside Sea World where there are various rides and activities for kids.

First ride up was the carousel. My wife and kids, along with others from our family, got on the ride as I headed off to find some shade as I couldn’t take the heat much longer. The ride was beginning to stop and after chatting with my brother-n-law for a bit, I got up to meet the kids. I then noticed a park employee running with a small child and their mother out of the ride area, after a second I realized it was my wife and smallest daughter.

I shot off and ran to them at which time they arrived at one of the medical stations inside the park. My daughter was crying, my wifes hands had blood all over them and I was about to freak out. We were met by one of the parks paramedics which quickly took her into a room and proceeded to clean her wound. She apparently slipped while stepping off the carousel platform, hitting the platform itself, and causing a laceration under her chin.

After cleaning and bandaging up her cut, they gave her a Shamu plush toy, and after talking with the security and paramedics, they drove us out to our car. We then headed towards the nearest hospital which was about 5 minutes away, and checked in at the ER. She was in a room within 15 minutes, and after getting a few stitches, we were out in just about an hour. Not bad for a Saturday afternoon. Overall, she is OK and I appreciate the messages I received asking about her.

I really have to say the staff at Sea World were the best, along with the folks at Dr. Phillips Hospital. Although the first day of summer vacation ended with a trip to the ER, the people who took care of us made a tough situation at least a little better.