Bouncing Safely – The Top Reasons That Bounce Houses Are a Safe Option

Planning a birthday party can be exciting and nerve-wracking, especially when ensuring the safety and enjoyment of all the guests, especially the little ones.

If you’re considering adding a bounce house to your event, you might wonder just how safe they are. Well, fear not! Bounce houses are not only a blast but also incredibly safe. Here are the main reasons why:

Bounce House Construction Itself

1. Durable, Commercial Vinyl: Difficult to rip or tear, preventing rapid deflation. Typical deflation occurs slowly.

2. Secure Anchoring Systems: One of the primary safety features of bounce houses is its anchoring system. Stakes of at least 18″ are driven into the manufacturer’s recommended number of anchoring points. If a surface does not allow stakes, the required weight (in sandbags) secures the inflatable to the ground surface.

3. Soft, Cushioned Surfaces: This is an obvious point, but bounce houses have soft, cushioned surfaces that provide a forgiving landing pad for energetic jumpers. This helps reduce the risk of injury in case of falls or collisions.

4. Enclosed Design: The Jump Party inflatables feature enclosed designs with high walls and safety netting. This prevents children from accidentally bouncing out of the structure, providing a contained and secure environment for play.

5. Inflated Entrance/Exit: An essential piece of emphasis is where riders get in & out of inflatables, where cushy air-inflated vinyl meets grass/pavement/concrete etc. Our inflatables have inflated entrances and exits, yielding a short ~10-18″ height versus a ~3″ height if no inflated entrances exist.
6. Emergency Overhead Exits: Enclosed inflatables always have an emergency exit on the roof. In the event of deflation, this exit provides an additional exit point (the main entrance/exits are still typically accessible).
7. Mesh Netting & Breathability: Good for seeing in (and out).

The Nature of Bounce Houses

1. Supervised Fun: While bounce houses are designed to be safe, adult supervision is still crucial. Having responsible adults nearby to oversee the bouncing ensures that children play safely and follow any rules or guidelines set for use.

2. Age-Appropriate Activities: Bounce houses come in various sizes and designs, making choosing one suitable for your party guests’ age group easy. Matching children with age-appropriate activities helps minimize the risk of accidents.

The Jump Party Team

1. Regular Maintenance and Inspections: Per state requirements and preference, we prioritize the maintenance and inspection of every piece of equipment. Before each rental, bounce houses undergo inspections to check for any signs of wear or damage, ensuring they are in optimal condition for use.

2. Use of ASTM Mats: When inflatables are set up on any hard surface, we utilize 2″ thick ASTM mats where riders enter and exit the inflatables.
3. Clear Rules and Guidelines During Operator Training: Setting clear rules and guidelines for using the bounce house can enhance safety. This includes limiting the number of children inside the bounce house at one time, enforcing rules against roughhousing or flipping, and prohibiting shoes or sharp objects inside the inflatable.
4. State Inspected: The State of Ohio requires a strict annual process (more details below) for an inflatable rental company to operate legally. The Jump Party is one of only a small handful in Central Ohio that follows all standards & procedures of the State and is fully licensed.
5. Insurance: The Jump Party carries full insurance to cover events in private and public spaces. Need a ‘Named Insured’? Our team can handle it in an instant. 
6. Team of Professionals: Frankly… We don’t employ knuckleheads & we don’t have an excessive amount of employee turnover. When things are not 90 degrees, with zero wind, a 100% flat surface & clear in 100′ in any direction of overhead wires, branches, etc… It’s essential to have employees with critical thinking skills and experience to lean on. Good employees lead to safe environments.
7. Operator Training: With each delivery, we train members of your team to become “Operators.” This involves a spiel talking through particular situations, monitoring of activity, do’s and don’ts, and lastly our infamous “sign-off sheet”. Rest assured, in ~5 minutes with our team, you’ll feel like an inflatable operator pro.
8. Extreme Emphasis on Weather: Hands-down, the highest safety-related cause for concern is weather. We pay attention to forecasts and will add additional stakes, have more extended discussions with your team, set up in areas that help prevent wind, and consider canceling a delivery altogether if conditions are unsafe. We take wind and weather very seriously.
9. Sterilized Equipment: We clean and sterilize equipment between every use. It’s important to us because we know it’s important to you as a customer.

The State of Ohio

1. Tyler’s Law. The State of Ohio has some of the most arduous requirements for inflatable companies to operate. This includes annual inspections, strict standards for inflatables (ASTM 2374), proper paperwork, documented procedures, and more. In return, you as a customer have assurance that you’re working with a reputable company and safe inflatables

Between the inflatables themselves, following common-sense safety practices, and choosing a reputable rental company, you can ensure your birthday celebration is memorable and safe for all the guests involved!

– The Jump Party