http://www.cnn.com/2011/US/06/05/new.york.floating.houses/
Once again a bounce house takes to the air. This time with children on them. Want to bet they were not properly secured?
http://www.krmgoup.com
Showing posts with label inflatable amusement ride safety bounce house jump moonwalk jump. Show all posts
Showing posts with label inflatable amusement ride safety bounce house jump moonwalk jump. Show all posts
Sunday, June 05, 2011
Sunday, March 15, 2009
Child Lost Inside Inflatable Obstacle Course
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
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
Wednesday, March 11, 2009
What you need to know before renting a bounce/jump house
What You Need To Know
Before You Rent or Purchase
A Bounce/Jump House
March 2009
They are called many things; moonwalk, bounce house, bounce, jumpy thing or just inflatable. There is one thing they are not, they are not toys. There are strict procedures and guidelines on how to set them up and how to operate them. There are many professional companies and individuals who are in the business and do a very good job of helping facilitate you and your child’s fun. We see them in parks, at schools, churches, stores, birthday parties, block parties, automobile dealers, grand openings, radio station remotes and just about any event where people come together. The comments that follow are design specifically for events that are open to the public. Private events should follow the same guidelines.
Here are my tips that can make your event go smoothly. You need to make sure that the business or individual is licensed and insured in your locality. If applicable in your locality you need to make sure the device itself is permitted and inspected by the authority having jurisdiction (i.e. county, town, city or state). If there is some type of inspection in your locality, you need to verify that it has been performed. Part of the permitting and inspection process may include liability insurance. You need to check and verify or see the original certificate of insurance, no copies. Your homeowner’s insurance will not cover any incidents that may occur while the inflatable is on your property. The person or business you are using is making money and as with any business they have operating expenses and cost. Insurance is one of them.
Now that you have the research and the paperwork done it is time to focus on the setup of the inflatable. You need to make sure that the area you are using to set up the inflatable is free from hazards, including underground, above ground and on the ground. This will involve the local utility locater service that operates in your community. The number is usually found in the front of most telephone directories. Your local utility company can also provide the number via their customer service number. The utility locater service should make the area 2-3 days in advance of your rental/event. They use spray paint which will not harm your lawn. The colors will disappear when you cut your grass. By the way, do not cut your lawn between the time it is marked and you have your event.
During the setup, it is all about location. Take care to have the surface area that users come in contact with face away from the sun. This is very important in the summer months. Facing north is the best option. Use the measurements of the inflatable for positioning. If you have a 15’ x 15’ unit you want to be at least 15’ away from the nearest object or hazard in all directions. That distance would increase as the size of the inflatable increases. The inflatable should have a protective cover placed between your lawn and the inflatable. No discoloration should occur provided your event is just one day. The cover may or may not be held down with spikes that look like giant nails. The inflatable is then rolled out, the blower is attached and inflation may begin. Some times stakes, sandbags or counterweights are put in place before inflation. This is a good idea.
Most people do not think of an inflatable as a sail, but it is a giant sail and if enough winds get in it or through it, it will fly away children and all. Every inflatable may have different anchoring requirements. There are many factors to consider such as the type of soil, is the soil wet or dry, sandy or rocky. Only the manufacturer and the person providing you the inflatable will know the requirements. If the requirement are not known the Consumer Product Safety Commission requires at least 75 pounds per anchorage point for a standard inflatable or 500 pounds per anchorage point for the large inflatable such as slides. Stakes that can be used are metal straight or screw stakes that range from 32 – 42 inches in length. At least 75 percent of the length of the stake should be in the ground. The ends of the stakes should be covered and protect to prevent tripping hazards. The bottom line is; if the inflatable has a loop, d-ring, eyelet, strap or other place of attachment, it should be connected to an anchoring device. Do not attachment any anchoring device to a tree, motor vehicle, building, pole or other device.
Protective mats such as a tumbling or wrestling mat are required at all entrance and exits. They should cover the fall hazard area. Mats are important on grass as well. Take a fresh egg out to your yard and drop it from 3-4 feet. It may not break completely, however it will crack.
By now the electricity should be ready to be connected to the blower/motors. A general rule of thumb is you will need a 20 amp, 110 volt circuit for each blower/motor. It should be a dedicated circuit with no other devices/outlets on it. You are out doors so it also needs to be a GFIC outlet. That is the funny looking outlet with the buttons between the receptacles that is usually found on bathroom, kitchen and outdoor electrical outlets. Avoid running electric cords to outlets inside a building if possible. A generator may also be used. Make sure the generator is properly grounded per the manufacturer and the National Electric Code Article 525. After everything is properly set up and connected it is time to turn the switch of. The blowers will make a lot of noise and you will have a hard time talking and hearing people. If a generator is used there will also be lots of noise.
During inflation the inflatable may look like it is not inflatable properly. The people setting it up may pull or tug on various areas. This is normal as sometimes the material is cold and just does not want to move quickly. One the inflatable is fully inflated the blowers will continue to run and it is normal to feel air escaping from areas around the seams. There are various areas on the inflatable that are used for deflation. They should be closed and secured. You are just about ready to go.
Before you allow your child or any child into any inflatable there needs to be a responsible and trained adult supervising the bouncing and jumping. This is necessary for many reasons some of them are: all manufacturer state it in their manual, the Consumer Product Safety Commission says so and the authority’s having jurisdiction
over inflatable’s say so as well as the amusement ride/device industry. The trained/responsible person must have no other duties or responsibilities other than making sure the users are doing so safely. Safety Rules should be posted and enforced. I look at the responsible person as a life guard. Give them a whistle and when someone is not obeying the rules, let that person know that what they are doing is wrong. Remember the blowers make a lot of noise so you need to be heard. On inflatable’s that have slides or courses where the one attendant can not see or view the entire area then you should have two trained attendants.
Some other tips to make your event safe and happy are be sure to have a telephone close by in case of an emergency. A first aid kit would be handy in the event of a minor injury. An ABC rated fire extinguisher would also be a good idea. If using a generator it is a must. Keep all fuel cans away from the generator and never re-fuel a generator while hot or running. No Smoking while handling fuel.
Before You Rent or Purchase
A Bounce/Jump House
March 2009
They are called many things; moonwalk, bounce house, bounce, jumpy thing or just inflatable. There is one thing they are not, they are not toys. There are strict procedures and guidelines on how to set them up and how to operate them. There are many professional companies and individuals who are in the business and do a very good job of helping facilitate you and your child’s fun. We see them in parks, at schools, churches, stores, birthday parties, block parties, automobile dealers, grand openings, radio station remotes and just about any event where people come together. The comments that follow are design specifically for events that are open to the public. Private events should follow the same guidelines.
Here are my tips that can make your event go smoothly. You need to make sure that the business or individual is licensed and insured in your locality. If applicable in your locality you need to make sure the device itself is permitted and inspected by the authority having jurisdiction (i.e. county, town, city or state). If there is some type of inspection in your locality, you need to verify that it has been performed. Part of the permitting and inspection process may include liability insurance. You need to check and verify or see the original certificate of insurance, no copies. Your homeowner’s insurance will not cover any incidents that may occur while the inflatable is on your property. The person or business you are using is making money and as with any business they have operating expenses and cost. Insurance is one of them.
Now that you have the research and the paperwork done it is time to focus on the setup of the inflatable. You need to make sure that the area you are using to set up the inflatable is free from hazards, including underground, above ground and on the ground. This will involve the local utility locater service that operates in your community. The number is usually found in the front of most telephone directories. Your local utility company can also provide the number via their customer service number. The utility locater service should make the area 2-3 days in advance of your rental/event. They use spray paint which will not harm your lawn. The colors will disappear when you cut your grass. By the way, do not cut your lawn between the time it is marked and you have your event.
During the setup, it is all about location. Take care to have the surface area that users come in contact with face away from the sun. This is very important in the summer months. Facing north is the best option. Use the measurements of the inflatable for positioning. If you have a 15’ x 15’ unit you want to be at least 15’ away from the nearest object or hazard in all directions. That distance would increase as the size of the inflatable increases. The inflatable should have a protective cover placed between your lawn and the inflatable. No discoloration should occur provided your event is just one day. The cover may or may not be held down with spikes that look like giant nails. The inflatable is then rolled out, the blower is attached and inflation may begin. Some times stakes, sandbags or counterweights are put in place before inflation. This is a good idea.
Most people do not think of an inflatable as a sail, but it is a giant sail and if enough winds get in it or through it, it will fly away children and all. Every inflatable may have different anchoring requirements. There are many factors to consider such as the type of soil, is the soil wet or dry, sandy or rocky. Only the manufacturer and the person providing you the inflatable will know the requirements. If the requirement are not known the Consumer Product Safety Commission requires at least 75 pounds per anchorage point for a standard inflatable or 500 pounds per anchorage point for the large inflatable such as slides. Stakes that can be used are metal straight or screw stakes that range from 32 – 42 inches in length. At least 75 percent of the length of the stake should be in the ground. The ends of the stakes should be covered and protect to prevent tripping hazards. The bottom line is; if the inflatable has a loop, d-ring, eyelet, strap or other place of attachment, it should be connected to an anchoring device. Do not attachment any anchoring device to a tree, motor vehicle, building, pole or other device.
Protective mats such as a tumbling or wrestling mat are required at all entrance and exits. They should cover the fall hazard area. Mats are important on grass as well. Take a fresh egg out to your yard and drop it from 3-4 feet. It may not break completely, however it will crack.
By now the electricity should be ready to be connected to the blower/motors. A general rule of thumb is you will need a 20 amp, 110 volt circuit for each blower/motor. It should be a dedicated circuit with no other devices/outlets on it. You are out doors so it also needs to be a GFIC outlet. That is the funny looking outlet with the buttons between the receptacles that is usually found on bathroom, kitchen and outdoor electrical outlets. Avoid running electric cords to outlets inside a building if possible. A generator may also be used. Make sure the generator is properly grounded per the manufacturer and the National Electric Code Article 525. After everything is properly set up and connected it is time to turn the switch of. The blowers will make a lot of noise and you will have a hard time talking and hearing people. If a generator is used there will also be lots of noise.
During inflation the inflatable may look like it is not inflatable properly. The people setting it up may pull or tug on various areas. This is normal as sometimes the material is cold and just does not want to move quickly. One the inflatable is fully inflated the blowers will continue to run and it is normal to feel air escaping from areas around the seams. There are various areas on the inflatable that are used for deflation. They should be closed and secured. You are just about ready to go.
Before you allow your child or any child into any inflatable there needs to be a responsible and trained adult supervising the bouncing and jumping. This is necessary for many reasons some of them are: all manufacturer state it in their manual, the Consumer Product Safety Commission says so and the authority’s having jurisdiction
over inflatable’s say so as well as the amusement ride/device industry. The trained/responsible person must have no other duties or responsibilities other than making sure the users are doing so safely. Safety Rules should be posted and enforced. I look at the responsible person as a life guard. Give them a whistle and when someone is not obeying the rules, let that person know that what they are doing is wrong. Remember the blowers make a lot of noise so you need to be heard. On inflatable’s that have slides or courses where the one attendant can not see or view the entire area then you should have two trained attendants.
Some other tips to make your event safe and happy are be sure to have a telephone close by in case of an emergency. A first aid kit would be handy in the event of a minor injury. An ABC rated fire extinguisher would also be a good idea. If using a generator it is a must. Keep all fuel cans away from the generator and never re-fuel a generator while hot or running. No Smoking while handling fuel.
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