Safety Guide

A recent survey has indicated that in any one year, more than 3,000 accidents resulting in injuries to children occurred from the use of inflatable bouncy castles within the UK. Many of the injuries were serious, including broken bones and severe lacerations. Most of the injuries are caused by children bouncing off the inflatable onto the ground, colliding with other children or just falling awkwardly. Many of these accidents could be avoided by effective adult supervision.

The following are guidelines only for those people contemplating hiring a bouncy castle.
The equipment should be hired from a reputable hire company and set upby the hire company's own staff. Ensure that the equipment is operated in accordance with the hire company's instructions and closely supervised at all times. This is particularly important if substantial numbers of children are likely to be present.

Before hiring a bouncy castle, ensure that the hire company:
1. Fully complies with the Health and Safety Executive Guidance Note PM76.
2. Employs suitably experienced and trained personnel for setting up the bouncy castle.
3. Provides written evidence of a current Public Liability Insurance policy with a limit of indemnity of at least £2 million.
(This insurance is to cover the liability of the hire company. It is unlikely to extend to cover the hirer of the equipment.)

If you are to operate the bouncy castle, in addition to Items 1 and 3 above, ensure that you are provided with written instructions about the safe setting up, operation and supervision of the equipment, and that the name and address of the manufacturer or supplier is clearly marked upon it. Beware of cheap inflatables, from catelogues etc, these are not suitable for parties etc.

The safety instructions should include the following points:
1. Children should not be allowed to use the bouncy castle if there is a high wind or in wet weather
(inflatables can flip over, and slippery surfaces may cause injury).
2. The castle must be adequately secured to the ground.
3. Soft matting covering hard surfaces must be placed adjacent to the front or open sides.
4. There should be responsible adult supervision, paying close attention to the children at play at all times during its use.
5. The number of children using the bouncy castle must be limited to the number recommended in the hire company's safety instructions. There must be no overcrowding.
6. A rota system for different age or size groups should be operated, together with the observance of any age limit of users.
(It is suggested that children over 10 years of age should not use the equipment).
7. All children must be made to remove footwear, hard or sharp objects such as jewelry, buckles, pens and pocket contents.
8. Eating while bouncing or performing acrobatics must not be allowed.