Children in New York are full of energy and love to play with their friends and toys. Unfortunately, children often get injured because they cannot appreciate the danger of certain circumstances. Toys or play sets should be designed with the safety of a child in mind, but often they are not. For example, a new study, published in the journal Pediatrics, looked at injuries related to consumer products that were treated at around one hundred emergency rooms between 1990 and 2010. The research revealed that children in the United States are often injured due to inflatable bouncers. The problem is growing, as the rate of injury is 15 times higher now than in 1995.
Recent statistics show that for every 100,000 children in the U.S., five are injured due to a “bounce house” accident. Of those 100,000, three percent of these children had to be hospitalized. Doctors hope that the latest data on these accidents will raise awareness among parents. Dr. Gary Smith from the Center for Injury Research and Policy at Nationwide Children’s Hospital in Columbus, Ohio recommends that children six years old or older should be allowed to play on bouncers. Parents should supervise their children and should be sure to limit the number of children in the bouncer at the same time. Dr. Smith, along with his colleagues, estimated 65,000 injuries between 1990 and 2010 were due to inflatable bouncers.
In 2010, around 11,311 children were brought to the emergency room to be treated for injuries. This statistic is an astonishing increase from the 702 children seen in 1995. Researchers believe that the increase is due to the
To be fair, a few doctors and medical researchers are skeptical about the influence inflatable bouncers have had on children’s injuries. Dr. Tigran Avoian, a researcher who previously studied bouncer-related injuries, states that children’s injuries could be caused by other sources and that hospitals should engage in better reporting methods. John Carr of the American Inflatable Alliance believes that children use bouncers an estimated 643 million times per year and in comparison to the number of children injured, the rate is actually small.growing use of inflatable bouncers and concede that these rates are similar to injuries caused by trampolines. The American Academy of Pediatrics advised against the use of trampolines in the beginning of this year. Common injuries from bouncers include broken bones and sprains, while other children were treated for cuts, concussions and bruises. About a third of the children injured were under the age of five years old.
Whether actually caused by an inflatable bouncer or not, one fact is clear – children’s injuries are increasing every year and parents should be more cautious about where their children play. Inflatable bouncers and trampolines are meant for a child to enjoy but when not used or maintained safely, serious injury can result.
If your child has been injured due to a dangerous product such as an inflatable bouncer, you should consider discussing your particular situation with a personal injury attorney who may be able to help you receive financial compensation for your child’s injuries.
