Question about magnetic brakes

Can anyone answer this? A buddy of mine has a pacemaker. He rides all the rides though advised not to. He has never had a problem before. Will the brakes be magnetically strong enough to have an effect (affect?) on his pacemaker?

If I have understood this correctly the magnetic area is confined in between the two strips of metal. I am no doctor but I don't think it would. Some one please correct em if I am wrong.
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"Your obssesed w/ that place aren't you?" (as stated by my best-friends about CP)

Anyone in the train should be well outside the area where the field is strongest. I don't think there should be any problem. In fact, you're further away from the magnets on Millennium Force than you are on any of the Intamin Giant Drop rides, where the magnets are on the car, right behind you.

--Dave Althoff, Jr.

Thanks!

I would advise your buddy to not ride the coasters. I'm sure they post warnings for a reason. It's much better to play it safe, but I'm sure thats a tough thing to do especally if he likes coasters.

You don't ride for heart reasons though, NOT because of the negligible magnetic field.

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Jeff
Webmaster/Guide to The Point
"And he says 'I'm goin' crazy up there at the lake...'"

Well, outside of the pacemakers (because people a heart condition could be at risk when riding a coaster regardless) there ARE life-saving electronic medical devices that people use.

My insulin pump, for one. There's nothing about my diabetes that precludes me from riding a coaster, but the insulin pump theoretically COULD be interfered with by strong magnetic fields.

However, the fields presented by LIMs, brakes, etc., are NOT a hazard. At least, they haven't caused me any problems yet :) (I've been on Pittfall at Kennywood, Chiller at SFGAdv)

I'll be on MF, and don't expect any problems. I'll check the pump when I get off just to be SURE, though ;-)

--Greg
*** This post was edited by GregLeg1 on 3/29/2000. ***

...And not knowing much about the conditions pacemakers are intended to contend with, I don't know that having one necessarily precludes one from riding roller coasters. I think that is a decision that has to be up to the patient and his physician, not a park attorney.

As for Greg and his insulin pump...even if it were adversely affected by something on the ride, I presume you have options in the event of a pump failure anyway...just make sure to check it when you've been in a potentially hazardous situation...

--Dave Althoff, Jr.

Dave -- oh, absolutely. I've been a diabetic 27 years, and using the pump for over 4. I never travel without emergency backup. :)

(Of the two competing brands of pump that were available at the time I got mine, I specifically chose the one I use because when you get it, you actually get *two* of them. So I literally have backup pump with me when I travel... Then on top of that I make sure I have some actual needles in the extremely unlikely event BOTH fail...)

And I agree that the decision to ride with a pacemaker is best left to the patient and their doctor. But being *aware* that these rides work on magnetic fields IS a good precaution, even if there's no real additional risk involved...

--Greg

It shouldnt be a problem. I seriously doubt the brakes would mess up electronics, or they would have to have you take off your watch (if its digital), pagers, cell phones, hearing aids, etc etc.


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