Friday, January 18, 2013

Bouncing Along in My Boston Globe

Bounce houses a party hit but kids’ injuries soar

CHICAGO — They may be a big hit at children’s birthday parties, but inflatable bounce houses can be dangerous, with the number of injuries soaring in recent years, a nationwide study found. Youngsters often crowd into bounce houses, and jumping up and down can send other children flying into the air, too.

The numbers suggest 30 US children a day are treated in emergency rooms for broken bones, sprains, cuts, and concussions from bounce house accidents. Most involve children falling inside or out of the inflated playthings, and many children get hurt when they collide with other bouncing kids.