“Prior to that, masks were mandatory at all times while on property, along with temperature checks,” Ramey said via email.
In a nutshell, guests can remove their masks in outside spaces when social distancing can be maintained.
“They still must be worn in all indoor locations and anywhere social distancing is not possible,” Ramey said. “The park is not maskless.”
The park issued a press release about the change April 12, noting the policies above, as well as some additional information.
“Dollywood hosts will continue wearing face coverings at all times,” the statement reads. “In addition, temperature checks have been discontinued. Guests and hosts, however, must still complete a health self-assessment prior to entering the park.”
As far as pandemic protocols, the park has plenty. Dollywood opened in 1986 and boasts that it “consistently entertains more than two million visitors annually.”
So that’s a lot of people to keep safe.
“Prior to our park opening in June 2020, we made more than 700 operational changes to manage the pandemic,” the press release notes. “Among those changes were social distancing in queue lines, restaurants and merchandise locations, increased frequency of sanitizing high-traffic areas throughout the park, and a capacity limitation on park attendance.”
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The park also added hand sanitizer locations and portable hand sinks, and it installed more than 6,500 pieces of signage across the properties to remind visitors of its policies and help them maintain social distancing standards.
For more about the policies, visit Dollywood.com/playsafe.
“Through surveys and reviews, our guests continue to tell us they feel Dollywood is managing the pandemic well and that they have recommended their family and friends visit the park,” the park said in the release.
Kids in hot cars public service announcement: I didn’t get a question about this topic, but I did have a discussion with a friend recently about this deadly serious issue. Also, I’m on the email list for an organization called Kidsandcars.org, and every year their press releases break my heart.
That’s because every year kids die after being left in hot cars during the spring, summer and fall, or even winter months in warmer areas.
Their first press release hit my inbox April 26. With hot weather reaching the 80s forecast for this week, I’m hoping this might be a well-timed reminder: please never leave a child in a car while you “run into the store for a few minutes.” And make it a habit to check the back seat every time you get out of the car.
The release that came Monday noted that a 5-month old died near Iredell County in North Carolina on April 25 “after allegedly being left inside a vehicle for several hours.” If the death “is confirmed be heat-related, this will be the first hot car death in the U.S. in 2021,” the release states.
It also noted that North Carolina ranks seventh in the nation based on the number of child hot car deaths, with 37 fatalities from 1991-2020. Also, 2018 and 2019 were the worst years in history for child hot car deaths, with a total of at least 107 children that died nationwide.
“Last year we were lower than the average number of hot car deaths due to the pandemic, but we are concerned that the numbers will increase as routines continue to shift and families begin going back to work this year,” Amber Rollins, director of KidsAndCars.org, said in the release. “Now is the time to be extra vigilant and create habits like placing a visual cue in the front seat every time your child is with you that can prevent these predictable tragedies.”
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If you’re like me, you probably think, “I’d never leave my child in a hot car. Ever.”
Consider this: “In over half of hot car deaths, the person responsible for the child’s death unknowingly left them in the vehicle. In most situations this happens to the most loving, caring and protective parents,” according to kidsandcars.org
Tragedy can strike very quickly, too. The organization notes, “Even with the windows cracked, the temperature inside a car can reach 125 degrees in minutes,” and “80% of the increase in inside temperature happens in the first 10 minutes.”
Also, you’d be surprised at the temperatures this can happen at.
“Children have died from heatstroke in cars when outside temperatures were as low as 60 degrees,” kidsandcargs.org states.
Here are some tips the organization recommends:
• Make it a habit to check the back seat or even open the back door every time you park to make sure no one is left behind.
• Place an item you can’t start your day without, such as an employee badge or laptop, in the back seat.
• Clearly announce and confirm who’s getting the children out of the vehicle. Miscommunications can lead to thinking someone else is removing the child.
• Ask your child care provider to call you right away if your child hasn’t arrive on time.
Also, keep your vehicles locked at home, keep the keys away from children and teach children to honk the horn if they’re ever trapped inside.
Let’s enjoy the spring weather, and keep those youngsters safe.
This is the opinion of John Boyle. To submit a question, contact him at 232-5847 or [email protected]
