Bounce Houses Pose Risk

Inflatable play equipment such as bounce houses or moon walks are popular but may be far riskier than parents imagine. What could be more fun than jumping high on a bouncy surface? It sure beats jumping on a bed.
Many parents have assumed that because the surfaces are all seemingly soft and air cushioned, that children are safe. But a new study in the journal Pediatrics suggests that the number of injuries attributed to inflatable bounce houses has skyrocketed over the last 15 years. In 2010 an average of 30 youngsters were injured each day from such equipment. Fractures, sprains and strains were most common, but there were also serious head and neck injuries. The authors urge parents to supervise their children, restrict the use to kids at least 6 years old and only allow one child at a time on the equipment.
[Pediatrics, Dec. 2012]