Here's Why So Many Florida Kids Get Hurt in Bounce Houses

Here’s Why So Many Florida Kids Get Hurt in Bounce Houses

Here's Why So Many Florida Kids Get Hurt in Bounce Houses

Kids love bounce houses. If they see one at a party, they go running. If the thought of this makes you want to start nervously biting your nails, don’t feel like a helicopter parent.

Why? Because the reality is that bounce houses may be more dangerous than we think.

Quick Stats about Bounce House Injuries

We don’t want to scare you, but the facts are the facts. Bounce house injuries are on the rise, causing harm to tens of thousands of children every year:

  • About 90% of inflatables-related ER visits have to do with bounce house injuries.
  • In 2010, a child got injured on a bounce house once every 46 minutes.
  • A third of these injuries included children under the age of six. (The Consumer Product Safety Commission recommends that children under the age of six should stay out of bounce houses altogether.)
  • Half of all states do not have government regulations concerning bounce houses. In 2016, an investigation conducted by WFTV-9 revealed that Florida is one of these states.

Why Do Florida Children Get Hurt in Bounce Houses?

Too many children are present (or not enough adults)

Bounce house injures include concussions, broken noses, and even spinal trauma. A lot of bounce house injuries occur when two children knock or fall into each other.

Bounce houses often have instructions that recommend the number of children allowed in a bounce house at one time, or how much weight the bounce house can hold. If there are too many children in the bounce house, it is always best to wait until some leave before letting your child play.

Additionally, you need to make sure that adults are watching children as they play. If children get too rowdy and start to do flips or somersaults, the risk of injuries could be even higher. Bounce house manufacturers may also print instructions for what children can and cannot do inside a bounce house, and adults who are standing by should be aware of these rules.

Children or adults enter the bounce house with dangerous objects

We’re not talking about knives here – or even pointy sticks. These “dangerous objects” mostly wouldn’t even be considered dangerous outside of a bounce house: keys, beer bottles, glasses, and so on. If any of these objects fall out of a person’s pockets or hands and a child slips or steps on them, they may face increased injuries.

Make sure that you, your child, and other bounce house attendees take off their shoes and glasses before they enter the bounce house. Attendees should also empty their pockets and place any items that may be hanging off their person aside.

Bounce houses are not secured properly

Bounce houses flying away in the wind. The image may sound amusing, but it really does happen, and it can cause serious injuries. Bounce houses have been known to fly dozens of feet off the ground because they were not properly secured.

If your child is at a party that has a bounce house, check with the homeowners about what they have done to secure the house. The same rules apply if you are at an amusement park or other business that has a bounce house present. If you are renting a bounce house, make sure that you read instructions very carefully.

Also, be sure that you check the weather before you rent or enter an outdoor bounce house. If the weather includes heavy winds or thunderstorms, it’s best to leave the bouncing for another day.

Was Your Child Injured in a Florida Bounce House?

Unfortunately, accidents do happen, but there are many steps along the way that can prevent most bounce house injuries. If your child was injured in a bounce house and medical bills are piling up, you may be entitled to compensation. Even though Florida does not have government regulations regarding bounce houses, you may still be able to file a personal injury case against the parties responsible for your child’s injuries.

Was Your Child Injured in a Florida Bounce House

Before you file, though, reach out to a Florida personal injury lawyer. The following factors could affect how you go about the case:

  • Who was “in charge” of the bounce house (amusement park, party hosts renting from manufacturer, etc.)
  • The warnings on the side of the bounce house
  • Any liability waivers you signed before entering the bounce house
  • The injuries that occurred
  • Any reckless behavior your child engaged in before entering the bounce house.

You can’t stop every accident from happening – especially when dealing with the negligence of others – but you can protect the rights of your child and your family by fighting back and holding responsible parties accountable.

 

About the Author:

Jeffrey Braxton is a trial lawyer in Fort Lauderdale who has devoted his career to the practice of personal injury law. As lead trial attorney for the South Florida Injury Law Firm, Jeff has litigated thousands of cases and is a member of the Million Dollar Advocates Forum, an exclusive group of attorneys who have resolved cases in excess of one million dollars.

Bounce House Injuries on the Rise

Bounce House Injuries on the Rise

Bounce House Injuries on the Rise

 

Bounce houses have long been a staple at birthday parties, fairs, amusement parks, picnics, and other community events. After all, few things are more fun for children than bouncing around on a big inflatable toy. But while bounce houses are generally seen as a safe form of entertainment for kids, emergency room statistics show a different story.

 

In 2012, more than 18,800 injuries caused by bounce houses, moon houses, and inflatable amusements were reported by the Consumer Product Safety Commission. That number is three times the number of bounce house injuries reported in 2006.

 

Of these injuries, two-thirds involved arms and legs, while 15 percent involved the head or face. Nine out of 10 people injured in bounce houses were 14 years old or younger. In 2012, the Los Angeles Times reported that a child is hurt every 46 minutes in a bounce house.

 

These statistics not only highlight the variety of risks associated with bounce houses, but also chronicle the rise of bounce house injuries among children.

 

What can you do?

 

How to Prevent Bounce House Injuries

 

If you’re planning to have a bounce house at a party or allow your child to go into a bounce house somewhere, here are some tips to prevent bounce house injuries.

 

  • Make sure an adult who is trained on safe bounce house use is present.
  • Bounce houses are safest when there is only one child on them at a time. If there will be more than one child in a bounce house, make sure the children are about the same age and size.
  • Have children remove their shoes, glasses, jewelry, and any other sharp objects they may be carrying.
  • Prohibit rough play, tumbling, wrestling, or flips.
  • Instruct children to stay away from the entrance or exit while bouncing inside.
  • If the bounce house starts to deflate, immediately stop play and have anyone inside carefully exit the bounce house.

 

How to Set Up a Bounce House

 

The proper setup of a bounce house is mandatory for children to be able to enjoy the bounce house safely. Here are some general guidelines for the safe setup of a bounce house:

 

  • Make sure the bounce house is placed on a flat surface.
  • Remove all rocks, sticks, or objects like sprinkler heads sticking up from the ground where the bounce house will be placed.
  • Put the bounce house in a place where there is plenty of open space around all sides.
  • Do not put a bounce house near tree branches or power lines.
  • If the bounce house will be on a hard surface, provide a soft surface around the entrance or exit of the bounce house.
  • Check the weather for wind. Most manufacturers recommend removing children from bounce houses or deflating them when winds are 20-25 miles per hour or higher.

 

What if My Child Gets Injured in a Bounce House?

 

What if My Child Gets Injured in a Bounce House

 

If your child gets injured in a bounce house, the first thing you need to do is get them medical attention as soon as possible.

 

Once you have gotten them the help they need, it is important to document the scene of the accident and take pictures as evidence. Bounce house injuries can be incredibly dangerous, debilitating, and expensive, and you should not have to pay for someone else’s mistake – get in contact with a Florida personal injury attorney who has a successful track record in these kinds of cases.

 

Several parties could potentially be held liable for bounce house injuries, including the operator of the bounce house, the person who rented the bounce house, the business that leased the bounce house to the renter, or the bounce house installer.

 

Many bounce houses require a waiver to be signed before being able to use or play in the bounce house. If you sign a waiver before entering the bounce house, you are accepting the risk associated with bouncing – but you are not accepting the risk associated with a negligent act. If your child is injured due to negligent maintenance, set up, or management, filing a lawsuit may be the only way to get fair and just compensation to help them recover.

 

 

About the Author:

 

Jeffrey Braxton is a trial lawyer in Fort Lauderdale who has devoted his 22-year career to the practice of personal injury law. As lead trial attorney for The South Florida Injury Law Firm, Jeff has litigated thousands of cases and is a member of the Million Dollar Advocates Forum, an exclusive group of attorneys who have resolved cases in excess of one million dollars.