Jumping high in a bounce house can put a smile on any little ones face. But for 3 small kids in upstate New York that joy turned to fear. Their backyard bounce house was lifted more than 2 stories in the air after it was swept up by a strong gust of wind.
A 10 year old girl fell out just after liftoff. Two boys ages 5 and 6 dropped nearly 20-feet to the ground and were hospitalized with serious injuries.
The owner of Jumpin Joeys in Springfield, Jessicca Estrada says she hates that such a fun activity is causing so much pain “That makes my heart sink that should have never happened.”
Authorities in New York say the bounce house was staked to the ground when it was uprooted, but the kind of stake that was used is what professionals say was the problem. “You’ve got to be safe from the very begininning,” says Ted Amberg of Amberg Events in Nixa. He says the playhouse was anchored down with a little yellow plastic stake, which he says is not acceptable.
Amberg says the kind of bounce house that was used should only be for inside use only. “There is no top so the kids that fell out of it not only went through the door they went out the top when this thing went flying. It’s just not an adequate piece for any real party, birthday party or church event. It might do good in your living room but that’s about it.
Amberg says to take note of the rules listed on the bounce houses and not to take them lightly.
“Inflatable games are really safe as long as you are following the safety measures and guidelines that comes with it.”