We’ve told you about the dangers of trampolines before, and even recommended parents not buy one. Our Injury Prevention experts have similar reservations about bounce houses, especially in light of new information detailed in a recent ABC News story.
An excerpt:
More than 11,300 children were treated for bounce house-related injuries in 2010, double the number from 2008 and 16 times the number from 1995, according to the study published today in the journal Pediatrics.
That “equals a child every 46 minutes nationally,” wrote the authors from the Center for Injury Research and Policy at Nationwide Children’s Hospital in Columbus, Ohio.
Claudia Romo, manager of the Injury Prevention program at Children’s, says if you decide your child’s next party wouldn’t be complete without a bounce house, or your child is attending a party with a bounce house, you should follow these safety tips:
- Jumpers should be of the same weight if possible.
- Allow only a “handful” of jumpers at one time to avoid collisions.
- Place bounce houses away from trees and electrical lines and on a flat surface to avoid them tipping over.
- Most importantly, provide active adult supervision. Keep a phone on hand and call 9-1-1 in the event of an incident.
Are you concerned about the safety of bounce houses? Tell us in the comments.
Thanks for your thoughts, Tony. What are your thoughts on the actual safety tips? Do you see parents following these tips at your events?
Thanks for the article. Bounce House safety is definitely a must when trying to keep your kids out of harms way. I operate a Bouncer company and we always us extra caution when setting up and operating the unit. Tks Again!
Tony@ Bounce House rentals NJ