“It was oozing, and when it oozes it spreads,“ said Brenda Sanderson of Boston. A trip to the doctor confirmed Brenda’s son, Max, had a staph infection and the doctor told her it was from the bounce house he had been in two days earlier.
In Ohio, each inflatable is licensed and inspected at least twice a year by the Ohio Department of Agriculture. Ohio law requires operators to follow the manufacturer’s guidelines of cleanliness and anchoring—including taking the bounce house down if wind speeds reach 20 miles an hour.
Getting bounce houses clean and dry is a top priority for Prime Time Party Rental in Dayton. “It smells like a horse barn inside of them if you don’t get rid of the water —they start molding,” said owner and president Bart Nye.
Thirty-two children have been treated for bouncy house injuries at Dayton Children’s Hospital in the last year, none required admission and most were strains, sprains and cuts, according to trauma program manager Lisa Schwing.
To keep your children safe from infection on a bouncy house experts recommend you: Check the bounce house for wetness, mold and mildew. Wash hand frequently. Keep wounds covered. To prevent injuries including bruises and broken bones, the National Association of Amusement Ride Safety has these recommendations: Only allow kids of similar height and weight bounce together. Keep the number of bouncers to a minimum. Make sure a supervisor or parent is on duty at all times. Also, keep an eye on your children as they bounce— and trust your gut— if something looks or feels unsafe don’t let your kids bounce.
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