Two young boys were seriously injured Monday after a bouncy castle they were playing in flew metres into the air and tossed them to the concrete below. It happened in South Glen Falls, New York, as three young children were playing in the inflatable “bounce house” when a gust flung it into the air. Two boys, aged five and six, dropped out of the structure from a height of about five metres. Also today, researchers writing in the U.S. professional journal Pediatrics say the popular “Bouncy Castle” phenomenon can result in fractures, strains and sprains among their young users. The study says hospital statistics in the U.S. found a 15-fold increase in wounds including broken bones, head injuries and cuts since 1995. The researchers says this is probably because more children are using the bouncy structures. The article recommends that bouncy structures be examined to see if improvements can be made. It also suggests greater adult supervision and that when more than one child uses the structure they should be of about the same age and size. Spectator
