Warning issued over bouncy castles

Bouncy castles are the latest must-have for children's birthday parties but they should carry a health warning, new research suggests.

A study carried out at the Emergency department of Sligo General Hospital found that 13 children sustained bouncy castle-related injuries during a three- month period last summer.

The children sustained a mixture of soft tissue injuries and fractures.

One unfortunate child sustained a fracture even before the fun began by tripping over the not-as-yet inflated castle.

The injured children ranged in age from three to 15 years and included seven boys and six girls. One had to be admitted after being treated in the hospital.

Six children suffered fractures - three of the wrist, one elbow, one ankle and one collarbone.

One boy fell off the bouncy castle and onto a flower pot cutting both his big toes in the process, according to registrar Orla O'Flynn who carried out the study with consultant Dr Kieran Cunningham.

They initiated the study after noticing "a spate of injuries on the first hot weekend of the summer".

Researchers found that six children fell off bouncy castles onto hard surfaces, while others were injured while still on board either when they fell or when another child fell on top of them.

Seven children sustained soft tissue injuries - two of the spine.

Dr Cunningham pointed out that the growing popularity of bouncy castles, especially at children's birthday parties, meant an increase in related injuries was inevitable but he said standards were needed to ensure the safety of children.

Among the many recommendations made when the study, entitled Hard Landings, was unveiled at a recent research conference in Sligo General Hospital was that adult supervision always be on hand.

"And we don't mean that Mum or Dad hops on after having a few glasses of wine during the child's party," said Dr O'Flynn.

She pointed out that two adults were treated for neck fractures at a Dublin hospital this year after having a go on bouncy castles.

Dr Cunningham said soft matting should always be placed alongside the bouncy castle to ensure soft landings.

He also urged that numbers be limited and that children of different sizes should not be allowed on at the same time.

The findings are to be forwarded to the Health and Safety Authority.

The authors of the study stressed the need for regulations here and said guidelines should be made available to every adult who hires out a bouncy castle.

An estimated 10,000 people are injured every year on inflatables in Britain.

And while none of the injuries treated at Sligo General Hospital were serious, the authors of the study pointed out that there has been one fatality in Australia.

It happened after a bouncy castle became airborne in high wind.