[/font][font=Arial, Helvetica]By Jerry Jackson | Sentinel Staff Writer
Posted June 15, 2005, 4:01 PM EDT
When a 4-year-old boy collapsed and died after riding Mission: Space at Epcot this week, two of the first Disney employees his mother encountered as she carried his limp body from the ride were trained in CPR, according to an Orange County Sheriff's Department report.
Neither Alejandro Barroso nor his supervisor Scott Clark could revive Daudi Bamuwamye. Paramedics took over within minutes, continuing efforts to revive the child enroute to Celebration Hospital, where he was declared dead Monday afternoon. An autopsy continues.
But industry experts said today the fact that CPR-trained employees were on the scene and could start life-saving efforts within minutes reflects the heightened attention to safety and training at amusement parks nationwide.
"Most of the parks have increased their safety awareness and redoubled efforts in training and staffing in recent years," said James O. Barber, an independent industry consultant who spent 30 years as a ride safety inspector in New York.
While Florida's big parks are exempt from state-mandated ride inspections, Disney, Universal Orlando and SeaWorld are considered industry leaders in safety, with extensive training programs, heart defibrillators on site and focus on safety of guests and employees.