Moonbounce and Bounce House Safety: Fairfax County Offers Tips

After two boys in New York were injured when a bounce house they were in was swept away by wind gusts, Patch is posting this video from Fairfax County offering safety tips to families considering renting a bounce house or moonbounce for a party.

From a hearing last summer, Rachel Weintraub, Legislative Director and Senior Counsel at Consumer Federation of America, discussed legislative priorities for 2013-2014, including urging the Consumer Product Safety Commission to "address hazards posed by inflatable amusement products such as bounce houses."

"According to Consumer Product Safety Commission's most recent data, from 2003 to through 2007 there were an estimated 31,069 inflatable amusement injuries serious enough to require emergency room treatment," Weintraub said in her written testimony.

"Ninety-one percent of those injuries were caused by moon bounces," she said. "Most of the injuries (62%) were in the 5 to 14 age group, and almost all the estimated injuries (85%) involved children under the age of 15."

"CPSC documented, in its report released in 2009, that it was aware of four deaths involving inflatable amusements from 2003 through 2007," she noted.

"News reports have indicated that bounce houses and other types of similar products can pose various hazards to consumers," she said. "For example, reports have indicated sudden deflation, entrapment of children as well as falling by children. Reports have also shown that such products have blown away and injured children. These incidents cause great concern."

"There is no voluntary standard for these products," she said. "We urge the CPSC to investigate this emerging hazard and to work with ASTM International in the development of voluntary standards for inflatable amusements that are intended for recreational use by consumers."