Bounce House Safety Tips for Kids

Bounce houses are popular attractions at many children’s parties and outdoor events. They provide a fun, seemingly safe activity for kids. Made of walls with bouncy, inflatable material, parents may assume that bounce houses don’t pose threats of bodily injuries. Unfortunately, this isn’t the case. From 2003 to 2013, there were 113,272 emergency department visits for injuries relating to inflatable amusements. More than 90% of these injuries were from bounce houses. Keep your kids safe in a bounce house without ruining the fun with these tips.

Some of the worst bounce house incidents involve the equipment falling over or becoming airborne from improper anchoring to the ground. Follow the bounce house supplier’s instructions when stabilizing the bounce house. Always situate the equipment away from trees, fences, and other objects that could harm children if they fall out of the bounce house. Do not set up the bounce house in bad weather, especially in high winds. There have been cases of bounce houses being swept into the air and into crowds. Always follow the instruction manual when setting up and using your bounce house.

Every bounce house will have specific limitations on size, weight, and number of kids. Obey these limitations at all times, as they are in place for children’s safety. Do not let adults or children who exceed the weight/size limits inside, as this could damage the equipment and cause the bounce house to collapse. Children who are too small for the bounce house might suffer injuries if they get stuck or crushed beneath larger children. Children should be old enough to play safely.

Post a sign with rules at the entrance of your bounce house, and have a supervisor available to help enforce them. These rules should include no shoes, toys, food, drinks, or other objects that could cause harm if children land on them. Check children’s pockets for pens, safety pins, and other sharp objects that could puncture other kids or the material of the bounce house. Children should not shove each other against the walls of the bounce house, or push each other outside of the bounce house. Never let children climb on the outside of bounce houses, as they may collapse or turn over.

About 66% of bounce house injuries are to the arms and legs. Leg and foot injuries were the most common, followed by arm/hand and head/face. These injuries occur mainly from contact with other children within the bounce house. A supervisor should watch activities constantly to ensure that children are obeying the rules and not getting too rowdy. Do not let children of significantly different sizes bounce at the same time. This can increase the risk of crush and collision injuries to smaller children.

If you have any qualms about setting up a bounce house on your lawn or allowing your child to enter one at a public event, trust your instincts. Windy weather, broken rules, and lack of supervision have all contributed to child injuries and deaths in the past. Consider swapping out a bounce house for a safer alternative, such as a more permanent playground fixture.

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