How to Make Sure Your Bounce Houses Are Safe

So, you’ve decided to get a bounce house for your family. Bouncing around these inflatables is fun for kids, teens, and adults alike. But how do you make sure that your bounce house is indeed safe for everyone in your home? 

In this post, we’ll share a few safety tips on bounce house set-up and use. Learn how to properly set up your inflatable bounce house to ensure its maximum safety. Also, we’ll give you tips on how to keep an eye on your kids as they bounce around in kidswise inflatable house.

Bounce Houses – Are They Inherently Safe?

Bounce houses are generally safe for everyone. They’re built to be tough, after all. An inflatable bounce house can hold several jumping kids (or adults) and still keep its good form, making it a safe playground for kids and adults. 

However, bounce houses still carry accident or injury risks. Some inflatables can be so bouncy such as when a person jumps too high, he can get blown away by sudden gusts of strong winds. Meanwhile, there are also incidences of bounce houses themselves being blown away into power lines, soccer fields, or into the woods. Another potential incident is the risk of puncturing the bouncy castle with a sharp object, causing the bouncy house to deflate and fall apart. 

All these accidents can be prevented by different measures which we’ll tackle in-depth later. But note that these things happen because bouncy houses are still vulnerable playthings. Just like a balloon, inflatable bounce houses are filled with air, which makes them prone to being blown away by strong and sudden wind gusts. Punctures and pricks can also inflate these houses rapidly. And since it’s soft and bouncy, there’s a risk that players may hurt themselves with all that jumping or, in case there’s a strong wind, get carried away in the air. 

This section isn’t meant to scare you off into buying or renting a bounce house – definitely not! What we’re trying to explain is that bounce houses are generally tough and safe for outdoor use, but anticipate potential accident risks and enforce safety measures to prevent them from happening. 

Keeping Your Bounce House Safe

Here are some tips to improve your bounce house’s safety. A safe bounce house is less likely to experience sudden floating or cause untoward accidents to its users. 

1. Install and secure your bounce house properly.

Follow your residential bouncer manufacturer’s advice on installing and securing your jump house. Typically, bounce houses are secured using 30 to 40-inch heavy-duty metal stakes. Hammer the stakes firmly into the ground, but don’t be complacent as strong wind gusts can rip them out easily. Secure your inflatable house further by: 

1. Weighing it down with five-gallon water jugs or concrete buckets
2. Using the right anchors every 5 feet
3. Applying sandbags with appropriate weight in addition to stakes and anchors 

Following these measures ensure that your bounce house is safely grounded and will not easily be taken away by strong winds should there be one. 

2. Monitor the weather and wind conditions before setting up an outdoor bounce house.

Inflatables should not be installed and used if wind speeds start rising at 15-25 miles per hour. Always monitor the wind and weather forecasts before setting up the commercial bounce house and continuously throughout the event’s duration. 

How would you know if the wind speed is already 15-25 miles per hour without a measurement device? You’ll notice that clothes hanging out to dry are already fluttering like flags. Also, loose papers, leaves, and dust start flying up and around as the wind blows. 

Immediately remove all inflatable users and take down the bounce house if wind speeds suddenly change and become consistently faster while the bounce house is in use. 

3. Do an allover check before allowing anyone to play inside the bounce house.

Inspect the installed bounce house and ask yourself the following questions: 

1. Is the bounce house properly inflated in all its parts?
2. Is it anchored and secured with adequate weights?
3. Are there any holes that need patching up? 

Once you’re sure about all these things, you can then allow entry and play inside the inflatable bounce house. 

4. Keeping a steady supply of power 

Prevent sudden bounce house deflation by keeping a steady supply of power or gas for the generator. Secure the cords as well to prevent accidental removal which may trigger a sudden bounce house deflation. There’s a risk of people being trapped inside the folds of a deflating obstacle bounce house, so be extra careful with the power cords to prevent deflation from happening. To prevent sudden deflation on your bounce house the right size blower is crucial.

Safe Bounce House Play for Kids

Safety is the utmost priority when playing inside a bounce house with slide, especially for little children. Here are some practical tips for a safe, comfortable, fun, and worry-free kids bounce house play. Note that these guidelines also apply to older teens and even to adults wishing to jump around inside a bounce house: 

1. Always supervise kids when playing.

Allow children to freely bounce and jump around, but don’t keep your eyes off them. Remember that accidents may happen anytime, so it’s best to supervise them at all times without restricting their play too much. 

2. Limit the number of children to the maximum allowable bounce house occupants.

Only allow the right number of players inside the bounce house. This will differ depending on the bounce house model, children’s age group, and sizes of the kids. Consult your bounce house manual and stick with their recommendations to be on the safe side. 

3. Don’t mix kids of different age groups inside the bounce house.

Prevent potential injuries by allowing kids to play according to age group. To illustrate, imagine placing a four-year-old kid inside an inflatable house filled with teens. The child can’t enjoy playing and he’ll be more prone to accidents because of the large size of older teens. 

4. Remove all shoes, watches, jewelry, and sharp objects from kids before entering the bounce house.

Children can safely play inside a bounce house without shoes on. Have them wear appropriate socks to support and protect their feet instead. Also, remove anything that may prick or puncture the inflatable, including watches and jewelry. 

Inflatable bounce houses are incredibly safe and fun to play in, but just like any play equipment, they carry certain injury or accident risks. Strong winds, power outages, and sudden deflation are all potential hazards that come with bounce house use. 

Fortunately, there are several ways to ensure the safety of bounce house users and the inflatable itself. Correct installation and setup are keys to making the inflatable structurally sound for play. Proper supervision and guidance are also required especially when kids are the ones playing inside the bounce house; teach them few fun and fantastic games. 

Have a fun and enjoyable time inside a bounce house with our safety tips!