Bouncy House Accidents are on the Rise. Are Bouncy Houses Safe for Kids?
With their increased popularity, the number of bouncy house accidents causing injuries jumped from 5,311 in 2003 to 17,377 in 2013, according to data gathered from U.S. hospital records by a Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC). A Stateline analysis identified approximately 20,700 injuries in 2016.
If your child is injured in a bouncy house because of the negligence of another person, business or organization, contact a personal injury lawyer right away. He or she can evaluate the accident and injuries and discuss your legal rights.
With only half of states regulating safety rules for inflatable entertainment, parents and caregivers must be aware of safety guidelines to help protect their children from a bouncy house injury. These Child Safety Link suggestions on how to keep children safe on inflatable structures are a valuable resource.
Prevent bouncy house accidents with these bouncy house safety tips
- Remove shoes, belts and any hard objects from pockets
- Remove jewelry
- Preferably one child on at a time but otherwise limit to groups of four with similarly sized kids (collisions are the number one cause of child injury on bouncy houses so this safety tip is very important)
- Do not allow children to do flips at all or if they do ensure that they are on alone
- Place a soft landing pad outside the entry/exit and discourage children from bouncing near the opening
- If the bouncy house begins to deflate, children should exit right away
- Do not set up a bouncy house outside if it is windy
- Responsible adult supervision is a must
- Bouncy house should be anchored down on all points or on hard ground mooring straps should be in place
- Do not allow children to climb on or jump off the walls of the bouncy house
- Do not allow food, beverages, soap or water inside the bouncy house
- If the kids are knocking into each other, have a couple of them exit to make more room
In addition, Technical Safety BC recommends checking the following manufacturer safety features:
- Make sure that the inflatable fabric or material is flame resistant
- Check that all warning signs are in place and clearly visible
- Explain the escape plan to kids in case the power goes out and causes the inflatable structure to deflate
- Internal combustion engines should be placed away from the bouncy house to prevent build up of carbon monoxide inside the structure
- Check that power cords and plugs are in good repair and that all electrical power supplies are ground fault protected at the source
- If you buy or rent a bouncy house, get the manufacturer’s instructions and read them to ensure safe and proper installation and operation.
If you or a loved one is suffering from an injury as a result of an accident or error caused by the negligence of another, you have enough on your plate. Let an experienced accident attorney fight for the full compensation that you deserve. It is not uncommon to receive a settlement from the insurance company that is five to ten times bigger with the help of a lawyer. Call the personal injury lawyers at Tario & Associates, P.S. in Bellingham, WA today for a FREE consultation! We have been representing residents of Whatcom County, Skagit County, Island County and Snohomish County since 1979. You will pay nothing up front and no attorney fees at all unless we recover damages for you!
