Several Dallas, Texas area news outlets are reporting a three year old child was lost inside an Inflatable Obstacle Course located at an indoor Fun Center in Flower Mound, Texas. Yes, I said inside the inflatable obstacle course.
http://cbs11tv.com/local/bounce.house.flower.2.957910.html
http://www.wfaa.com/sharedcontent/dws/wfaa/localnews/news8/stories/wfaa090313_mo_inflatables.2cbf63d5.html
Inflatable Amusement Rides and Devices have become very popular over the last 5-10 years. Once they were found only on carnival midways and amusement parks. Now any Tom, Dick or Harry as well any Mary, Jane or Suzy can order one off the Internet or go to their local warehouse club and purchase one. In a blink of an eye you are in the amusement ride business.
This Texas incident could not have occurred in a worse location. In Texas the Texas Department of Insurance oversees the insurance portion of the amusement ride industry. An annual inspection by a third party inspector is required. The inspector has to be approved by the Texas Department of Insurance. The oversight and enforcement is not as good as some of the east coast states, but it is better than nothing.
Back to the Inflatable Fun Center. The Obstacle Course that this child was using has a minimum height limit. That height limit is 42 inches. The average height of a three year old is 39 inches. This inflatable has pillars that inflate and stick up out of the floor of the unit. The reports and information at hand have suggested this three year old child stepped in or on one of these pillars and fell into and between the pieces of vinyl that make of this device. We were not there so we don't know all the facts.
Here is what we know that should have been in place so that this incident should not have occured.
1. Strict enforcement of the manufacturers rules and regulations, which would include enforcement of height limit and other minimum requirements.
2. A trained and responsible attendant(s) that are responsible for each and every child in or on the inflatable obstacle course. If one attendant can not observe the entire obstacle course, then as many as needed or required by the manufacturer should have been present.
Perhaps more should be added but for now I suspect these two have covered this situation.
If you take nothing else away from this article be sure to remember this. Parents and supervising adults of children, yes you are responsible for your children. However when you go into a business with your child that business has an obligation to operate safely so that you leave the same way you came in. NEVER allow your child to enter, use or otherwise participate in or on any type of amusement ride, inflatable or otherwise without an Attendant. Hopefully that Attendant will be properly trained, educated and tested on the subject matter he/she is overseeing.
Related Links
http://www.rideaccidents.com
http://www.saferparks.org
http://www.krmgoup.com
