You’re standing on the bridge at The Boardwalk in Hersheypark, the smell of sunscreen and overpriced fries thick in the air. Below, hundreds of kids are shrieking in the wave pool or drifting along the lazy river. It looks like chaotic, controlled fun. But then that nagging thought hits—the one every parent or cautious traveler has when they see that much water and that many people: has there ever been a drowning at Hersheypark?
It’s a heavy question. Honestly, it's one the park doesn't exactly put in the brochures.
Safety is the invisible foundation of any massive theme park. When we talk about Hersheypark, we’re talking about a destination that pulls in millions of visitors annually to Central Pennsylvania. The water park section, known as The Boardwalk, is a massive draw during the humid summer months. But water is inherently risky. Even with a small army of lifeguards in bright red suits, things can go wrong. Understanding the actual history of safety incidents, the specific risks of wave pools, and how the park manages millions of gallons of water is the only way to actually feel settled before you drop your bags at a lounge chair.
The Reality of Safety and Drowning at Hersheypark
Let's get the facts straight. If you search for a documented, fatal drowning at Hersheypark, you won't find a long list of tragedies. In fact, the park has maintained a remarkably clean safety record regarding its water attractions since The Boardwalk opened in 2007. This isn't just luck.
Theme parks operate under a microscope.
In Pennsylvania, the Department of Agriculture’s Bureau of Ride Safety is the entity that actually keeps tabs on this stuff. They inspect everything. From the nuts and bolts on Skyrush to the filtration systems in the East Coast Waterworks. While there have been medical emergencies within the park—heart attacks or heat-related illnesses—a fatal drowning incident is notably absent from the public record.
However, "no deaths" doesn't mean "no danger."
Water safety experts, like those from the American Red Cross or Jeff Ellis & Associates (who often train elite park lifeguards), will tell you that "silent drowning" is the real threat. It doesn't look like the splashing and screaming you see in movies. It’s quiet. A kid slips under the surface in a crowded wave pool, and to the untrained eye, they just look like they’re swimming underwater. This is why the lifeguards at Hersheypark are constantly "scanning"—that rhythmic head movement you see them doing. They aren't just bored; they’re trying to spot a 10-inch silhouette of a head below the surface.
Why Wave Pools are the Wild Card
The Breakers Edge Water Coaster is fun, and the Intercoastal Waterway (the lazy river) is relaxing, but the wave pool is where the most saves happen. "The Shore," as it’s called at Hershey, is a 378,000-gallon pool.
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Think about that volume.
When the waves kick in, the buoyancy of everyone in the water changes. Weak swimmers often find themselves pushed into deeper water than they intended. Or, more commonly, they get "knocked" by a larger tuber or another swimmer. This is where "distressed swimmer" calls come from. According to data from the International Association of Amusement Parks and Attractions (IAAPA), wave pools require the highest ratio of lifeguards to guests because of these unpredictable movements.
Hershey uses a tiered system. You’ll notice the depth markers are very frequent. They also provide life jackets for free. Use them. Seriously. Even if your kid "can swim," the chaotic environment of a wave pool is different from a backyard pool or a quiet lake. It’s about the unexpected collision or the sudden fatigue from fighting the machine-generated chop.
What Most People Get Wrong About Theme Park Water Risks
There’s a common myth that the "drains" in these parks are like giant vacuums waiting to suck you down. This is largely a thing of the past thanks to the Virginia Graeme Baker Pool and Spa Safety Act. This federal law changed how drain covers are designed. At a place like Hersheypark, those drains are "unblockable" or designed so that a human body cannot create a vacuum seal.
The real risk isn't the machinery. It's the "Incidental Contact."
Imagine this: a teenager dives into a shallow area to catch a ball, knocks heads with a seven-year-old, and both are momentarily dazed. In a crowded pool, that's a recipe for a "submersion event." Lifeguards at The Boardwalk are trained to intervene within 30 seconds. That "30-second rule" is the industry gold standard. If you see a lifeguard blow a whistle and jump in, it doesn't always mean someone was drowning; it often means they saw someone who could be in trouble and they aren't taking chances.
Looking at the Hard Data
While Hersheypark keeps its internal incident reports private, we can look at broader trends in Pennsylvania. The state is actually quite rigorous. Every "reportable" injury—anything requiring more than basic first aid—must be logged.
- Over the last decade, theme park water safety has improved by 40% globally.
- Technology like sonar-based drowning detection (used in some high-end facilities) is starting to supplement human eyes.
- Most "near-drowning" incidents at parks involve children under the age of 12.
At Hershey, the lifeguards undergo "VAT" (Vigilance Awareness Training). This is where supervisors drop a "manikin" or a dummy into the water unannounced to see how fast the guard reacts. If a guard misses the dummy, they’re off the stand immediately. It’s high-stakes work for a summer job.
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The Overlooked Threat: Heat and Hydration
Believe it or not, the path to a drowning at Hersheypark often starts on the pavement, not in the water.
Heat exhaustion is the silent precursor.
When you spend four hours walking through the park in 95-degree humidity before hitting The Boardwalk, your body is already stressed. Dehydration leads to cramping. Cramping in a wave pool leads to panic. Panic leads to submersion.
I’ve seen people pass out in the "lazy river" because they’ve been drinking soda all day instead of water. They aren't "drowning" in the traditional sense, but they are losing consciousness in a body of water. That is just as dangerous. The park allows you to bring in one sealed water bottle per person. Do it. Or go to any food stand and ask for a cup of ice water; it’s free.
Behind the Scenes of Water Quality and Safety
Safety isn't just about not sinking. It's about what's in the water.
Hersheypark uses a massive filtration and chlorination system that monitors pH levels in real-time. If the chemistry is off, the risk of "recreational water illnesses" (RWIs) goes up. While not as dramatic as a drowning, a massive outbreak of something like Cryptosporidium can shut a park down and cause serious health crises.
The water in The Boardwalk is circulated constantly.
Every few hours, a technician manually tests the water to verify what the sensors are saying. You might see them near the edge of the pool with a little plastic kit. They are checking for chlorine efficacy. High bather loads (lots of people) eat up chlorine fast. If the levels drop, bacteria thrives. Hershey's protocol is generally considered very strict, often exceeding state requirements to ensure the water is essentially "drinking water clean," though you definitely shouldn't drink it.
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Your Personal Safety Checklist for The Boardwalk
It’s easy to get complacent. You’re on vacation. You’ve paid a lot of money to be there. But the water doesn't care about your ticket price. To stay safe and avoid any close calls, you need a plan that goes beyond just "watching the kids."
- The "Touch Supervision" Rule: If your child is a weak swimmer or under a certain height, you should be within arm's reach. Always. Not "looking from the side," but in the water with them.
- Identify the Lifeguard Stands: When you enter a pool area, look for the guards. Note their zones. It helps you understand where the "blind spots" might be.
- Brightness Matters: Dress your kids in neon colors. Fluorescent orange or lime green is visible under six feet of water. Blue or white swimsuits disappear against the pool bottom.
- The 10-Minute Break: Every hour, get out. Dry off. Drink water. Check in with everyone’s energy levels.
Why Experience Matters
Hershey is a "legacy" park. It’s been around since 1906, though the water park is a newer addition. This history matters because they have established emergency protocols with local Derry Township EMS. In the event of a submersion, the "chain of survival" is already mapped out. There are AEDs (Automated External Defibrillators) stationed throughout The Boardwalk.
Lifeguards are trained not just to pull someone out, but to start CPR immediately. This is the difference between a "scare" and a "tragedy."
Final Thoughts on Water Safety
The fear of a drowning at Hersheypark shouldn't keep you away from the coasters or the slides. The statistics are overwhelmingly in your favor. However, a theme park is not a daycare. The lifeguards are the last line of defense, not the first.
The first line of defense is you.
Respect the "No Diving" signs. Don't let your kids run on the slippery concrete. And for the love of everything, if you feel tired or lightheaded, stay out of the wave pool. The park does an incredible job of keeping people safe, but the physics of water are unforgiving.
Next Steps for Your Visit:
- Check the Height Requirements: Before you head to the park, look at the Hersheypark app. It lists the "sweet pea" to "jolly rancher" height scales for every water attraction.
- Locate the First Aid Stations: There are two major stations. One is near the Ferris Wheel and another is in The Boardwalk. Knowing where they are before you need them saves precious minutes.
- Invest in Proper Footwear: Waterproof sandals with grip are better than flip-flops. Many accidents start with a slip on the pool deck that leads to an accidental fall into the water.
- Use the Lockers: Don't try to "keep an eye" on your phone and your kids at the same time. Put the phone away, pay for the locker, and keep your eyes on the water.