Abstract Body (Do not enter title and authors here): BACKGROUND: Pediatric cardiac implantable electronic device (CIED) use is increasing, with up to 1.4 million devices implanted annually worldwide. Patients with CIEDs are advised to avoid electromagnetic interference (EMI). Amusement park rides with linear induction motors (LIMs) can generate significant magnetic fields; field strengths exceeding 10,000 milligauss (mG) can interfere with normal CIED function. Amusement park signs caution patients with cardiac conditions; however, there is limited data on the safety of rides for patients with CIEDs.

AIM: To assess magnetic field strength on amusement park rides to evaluate risk of EMI with CIEDs.

METHODS: Magnetic field strength was recorded using gaussmeters (GQ Electronics-LLC) on 15 amusement park rides: 11 with a health advisory message and 4 without. Gaussmeters were placed at shoulder level and abdomen level, simulating typical pediatric CIED sites. Each ride was trialed > 4 times, and the median and maximum magnetic field strength over the course of the ride (epoch 1 second) was recorded. Two-sample t-tests compared magnetic field strengths between groups.

RESULTS: The mean of the median magnetic field strength for rides with a health advisory message was 2.9mG vs 1.6mG for rides without a health advisory (CI=-2.6, -0.02; p=0.05). The maximum magnetic field strength was significantly higher for rides with a health advisory than those without (46.4mG vs. 6.5mG; CI=-56.6, -23.1; p<0.001). Rides using LIMs (n=2/15) exhibited significantly higher maximum magnetic field strengths compared to those using other mechanisms (211.7mG vs. 7.8mG; CI=166.2, 241.5; p<0.001). Additionally, rides with significant elevation changes (n=2/15) had a greater maximum magnetic field strength than rides without (90.8mG vs. 23.7mG; CI=21.9, 112.4; p=0.005). There was no difference in the maximum magnetic field strengths between the shoulder (33.0mG) and abdomen (41.3mG) positions (CI=-34.6, 18.0; p=0.53).

CONCLUSION: The magnetic field strengths recorded in all trials were clinically insignificant, indicating the low risk of EMI with CIED function during amusement park rides. Rides with health advisory messages exhibited higher maximum magnetic field strengths, but this factor alone is not indicative of EMI risk for patients with CIEDs. Further validation of these findings will allow for more specific guidance to patients with CIEDs regarding amusement park rides.