A 2009 memo from the Consumer Product Safety Commission ("CPSC") estimated that there were over 31,000 emergency department treated injuries associated with inflatable bounce houses in between 2003 and 2007 in the U.S.- that's over 17 trips to the emergency room a day.
The CPSC's memo also revealed that during that same period there were four reported deaths, most of which involved someone falling off or out of the inflatable and then hitting their head on the hard pavement nearby.
Now as summer vacations get underway parents will undoubtedly be hosting or taking their children to birthday parties or gatherings with inflatable bounce houses. While these bounce houses look soft, safe, and fun for children of almost any age the CPSC's data tell a different story, and a recent article in the Washington Post revealed several shocking stories of how improperly staked bounce houses have been blown across city streets, swept away by wind gusts, or toppled by excessive weight.
Before letting your child enter a bounce house or other inflatable jumping device make sure to check that:
The CPSC's memo also revealed that during that same period there were four reported deaths, most of which involved someone falling off or out of the inflatable and then hitting their head on the hard pavement nearby.
Now as summer vacations get underway parents will undoubtedly be hosting or taking their children to birthday parties or gatherings with inflatable bounce houses. While these bounce houses look soft, safe, and fun for children of almost any age the CPSC's data tell a different story, and a recent article in the Washington Post revealed several shocking stories of how improperly staked bounce houses have been blown across city streets, swept away by wind gusts, or toppled by excessive weight.
Before letting your child enter a bounce house or other inflatable jumping device make sure to check that:
- The inflatable is properly secured and staked;
- The inflatable is not over crowded with children;
- The inflatable is not tattered, worn or patched;
- Your child is never unattended and someone is always watching the inflatable; and
- The air flow from the motor to the inflatable is not obstructed.
