How to Keep Kids Safe in Bounce Houses(B)

C. Ensuring The Safety Of The Bounce House 

1.Make sure the bounce house is weighted properly. Commercial-grade Bounce houses are 

generally heavier than the ones you may buy in the store. On concrete, a commercial bounce 

house should be weighted with at least 100-pound weights on each corner.When the bounce 

house is set up on grass, it should be secured with heavy-duty metal stakes.The metal stakes used

 to secure the bounce house should be 30 to 40-inch steel stakes. This secures the bounce house and

 keeps it in the ground. Bounce houses shouldn’t be secured with short plastic stakes.For example, 

a commercial bounce house may weigh over 200 pounds while one purchased from a box may weight 30.

2.Avoid using bounce houses in high winds. Wind can be very dangerous to bounce houses. Multiple incidents

 have reported that strong winds have blown bounce houses away. When using a bounce house, you should

 tell your children to get out of the bounce house if the winds range from 20 to 25 miles per hour or higher.

You may also consider deflating the bounce house in high wind conditions.Before putting up the bounce house, 

check the wind conditions. You can do this via your local TV weather report or an online weather app.

3.Avoid setting up bounce houses in the rain. If it starts to rain while children are in a bounce house, they 

should be removed immediately. Children should not be allowed back inside the bounce house until it has

stopped raining.Dry the floor of the bounce house before children are allowed back in. Jumping in wet conditions

can cause more slipping and lead to injuries.Children should not be allowed inside bounce houses when it is 

storming. This increases the risk of injury due to wind, rain, or lightning.

4.Discuss insurance and inspections with the company. There are no national guidelines for bounce houses. 

Different states approach the safety and regulation of bounce houses differently. However, some company 

inspect their bounce houses, or offer warranties or insurance policies. When renting a bounce house, talk 

to the company about the inspection of their bounce houses, the training of their operators, and any 

warranties or insurance policies they have. Many reputable companies may also be licensed and have 

certified operators.Research the company to find out the kind of reputation they have. Make sure you 

are renting from a reputable, safe company. Verify that the company is a real company instead of someone

who is just renting out a bounce house with no experience, insurance, licensing, or even office.If you sign 

a contract, make sure to read all the fine print. The contract might outline warranty, insurance, or other 

important information.

D. Providing Medical Care For Injured Children

1.Be prepared for injuries. Though no one wants to think about their children getting hurt, adults should 

be prepared for any injuries that occur. Have a first aid kit nearby and determine which adults know CPR 

or have first aid training.Know which adults are doctors, nurses, or medical personnel and ask them if they 

are willing to help in an emergency. Discuss with other parents any emergency protocol in case of an injury.

2. Remove any injured child from the bounce house. If a child happens to get hurt in the bounce house, the 

child should be removed immediately. A parent or adult should enter into the bounce house to help the child 

get out.Make sure you know what has been injured before removing the child. For example, if the leg has 

been injured, help the child walk so they do not injure the leg anymore.

3.Assess the injury. After the child has been removed, assess the injury. Determine the severity of the injury 

so you know whether the child needs medical attention.If the child is in severe pain, or has any kind of 

abnormality in the limbs, he should be taken to the emergency room.If the injury appears to be minor, keep 

the child out of the bounce house. If any first aid is needed, attend to the injuries. Monitor the injury to see 

if it worsens. If the pain is bad the next day, take the child to the doctor.