Birthday parties are supposed to be fun… right?
Most of the time they are. But mix in a bounce house, castle, moonwalk or other inflatable bouncer and injuries become a real concern.
Did you know that a child in America is injured in a bounce house every 46 minutes? Falls account for 43 percent of injuries, followed by stunts and child collisions. More than half of the injuries are fractures, sprains, and strains, followed by serious injuries to the head (concussions and brain injuries), neck and face. Studies show that boys (average age 7 1/2) are somewhat more prone to these injuries than girls.
To add to the list – this week, an inflatable bouncer was caught in a gust of wind (a frequent occurrence with these products) and lifted off the ground to a height of 50 to 100 feet carrying a young girl and two young boys. All three were injured when they fell from the inflatable – the boys seriously.
A spokesperson for the Center for Injury Research and Policy at Nationwide Children’s Hospital is calling on parents to prohibit children under six from even entering a bounce device of any kind and to limit usage by older children to one child at a time whenever possible.
And then there are trampolines. The American Academy of Pediatrics now strongly recommends that these devices not be used at homes or recreationally due to the very high number of serious injuries to children. Seventy-five percent of trampoline injuries occur when more than one person is jumping, and children five years of age or younger are typically at greatest risk for serious injury. Falls from trampolines cause the majority of these injuries with fractures and dislocations occurring most often. Other common injuries in all age groups include sprains, strains, and contusions.
Ultimately child safety is a parental responsibility. If you are planning to rent a bounce house for your child’s next party – take the time to learn all you can about the risks involved and the safety steps to take to ensure that everyone has a safe experience. If your child is attending a party where a bounce house or trampoline will be in use, talk to the hosting parents about any safety concerns you may have and talk to your kids about the risks as well.
If you or a loved one are ever injured on one of these devices due to the product being defective or because of the negligence of a property owner, it is important to gather all the information you can and then call a qualified Connecticut personal injury lawyer. A knowledgeable personal injury attorney can help to ensure that your rights are protected.
RisCassi & Davis has handled thousands of injury cases in Connecticut over our nearly 60 years serving the people of this state. Our attorneys have also received significant local and national recognition for our handling of injury cases.
If you would like a free consultation with one of our Connecticut personal injury lawyers, please contact us today. There is no obligation of any kind. And – there is no fee or other costs unless we are successful on your behalf.