Child Injury Lawyer Blog
By David Wolf, Attorney
Published by Child Injury Lawyer Network
Years ago, bounce houses were limited to amusement and theme parks. They were set up and supervised by professionals who had experience with the bounce houses and inflatables. Over time, bounce houses and inflatables became affordable and accessible for just about every parent or person throwing a back yard party. It is common for a parent to rent an inflatable and get limited to no instructions as to safety while the bounce house is in use. There are some companies that take the time to provide safety precautions and recommended rules for use. There are also some companies that provide supervision in addition to the delivery of the bounce house. Supervision is well and good as long as it is consisent and free from distractions. Having a bounce house attendant in place but on his or her mobile phone most of the time is not much better than no supervision at all. When a parent or person rents or puts up a bounce house for use by children, it is important to keep some safety rules, tips, and precautions in mind and in place.
Here are some basic concepts to keep in mind:
Have adult supervision in place at all times.
Set up a schedule of supervision and make sure that the adult is supervising and watching the children rather than just standing there.
Make sure that the bounce house is properly anchored and that the anchors are clearlly marked to avoiding tripping over the anchors.
Separate children by age group and size.
Limit the entry into the bounce house to one at a time.
Limit the total number of occuptants to the manufacturer guidelines.
Follow the guidelines as to age and weight requirements for use.
Assist small and young children as needed.
Make sure that the children play safe and do not perform stunts that could hurt themselves and others.
Provide for rest time for the children.
Do not allow any child to overplay (time wise) in the bounce house.
You can read about some of these times and others in the article – Bounce House Safety.
The above safety measures should be followed by those renting or owning a bounce house including homeowners, schools, day care centers, festivals, summer camps, theme parks, amusement parks, and others.
If a child has been injured in as a result of the negligence of others in a bounce house or inflatable, the parents should contact a Child Injury Lawyer for advise, guidance, and legal representation. The book – The ABCs of Child Injury – Legal Rights of the Injured Child – What Every Parent Should Know. The book has chapters on Day Care Center Injuries, Playground Injuries, School Injuries, Amusement Parks and Theme Parks, and other topics. You can get this book for free at The ABCs of Child Injury.