(Newswire.net — June 9, 2019) — Parents take their kids to birthday parties and carnivals where there are bounce houses. Some play areas for kids have them as well. Nowadays, parents may even purchase them for their own homes. However, some people still question the safety of them.
Safety of Bounce Houses
Although bounce houses are a ton of fun for children, it’s possible for them to sustain an injury. In fact, USA Today reported the number of children who are injured on inflatables is skyrocketing. It started to increase in 2008. The most common injuries are sprained ankles, broken arms, broken legs, strained necks, sprained necks, and concussions.
Encouraging Safety
While bounce houses do have drawbacks, it’s still possible to purchase one from outdoor play stores and protect children from injury. First and foremost, when someone sets up a bounce house, they should always place the stakes in the ground securely. Some of the injuries, and even deaths, from bounce houses were the result of the house not being securely staked to the ground. In these cases, the wind catches the bounce house, which in return, causes the child or children to go up in the air along with the house.
Additionally, someone needs to supervise children while they’re in the bounce house at all times. That way a parent can always intervene if a child is performing any kind of stunts or jumping in a manner that could hurt him or her. This is especially important if multiple children are jumping in the bounce house at one time. In order to prevent injuries, only children of similar sizes should jump together because one child could easily harm another one.
It’s important for the person who is supervising to keep their focus on the children. In other words, the adults should stay off of their phones while the kids bounce. In addition, parents should never drink while they’re watching the kids since it could impair their reaction time and judgment.
For parents who have a bounce house at their home, it’s important to follow all the instructions that come along with the bounce. For instance, the adult should make sure that only the maximum recommended number of kids is jumping at one time. It’s important to adhere to the weight limit and any other guidelines as well.
While bounce houses can be dangerous, they are fun for children. With proper supervision and adhering to certain rules, it’s possible to keep children safe.