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Rates of injuries to children increasing with inflatable bouncers
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From 1995 to 2010, there was a 15-fold increase in the number of inflatable bouncer-related injuries among children that were treated in EDs in the United States, according to study findings published online.
Gary A. Smith, MD, and colleagues from Nationwide Children’s Hospital in Columbus, Ohio, reviewed data from the National Electronic Injury Surveillance System (NEISS), which is operated by the US Consumer Product Safety Commission. The NEISS provides information on consumer product-related and sports and recreation-related injuries treated in hospital EDs across the country.
Gary A. Smith
In 2010 alone, more than 30 children per day, or about one child every 45 minutes, were treated in hospital EDs for injuries associated with inflatable bouncers, Smith and colleagues said.
The study researchers said although fractures and strains or sprains were the most common types of injuries, at 28% and 27%, respectively, approximately one in five injuries were to the head and neck. Therefore, use of these products can pose serious risks. Falls were the most common cause of injury, followed by stunts and collisions.
“It is time for us to take action to prevent these injuries,” Smith said in a press release about the study. “Ensuring that parents are aware of the potential risks, improving surveillance of the injuries, developing national safety guidelines and improving bouncer design are the first steps.”
The study researchers said the injury patterns for inflatable bouncers and trampolines are very similar, and although there are guidelines for trampolines, no such guidelines exist for inflatable bouncers.
Until national safety guidelines are in place, parents should consider the risks before allowing their child to use an inflatable bouncer, the researchers said. They also advised that parents should consider limiting use of an inflatable bouncer to children aged 6 years and older, and an adult be present for supervision. In addition, one child at a time should be on the bouncer. If more than one child will be on the bouncer at the same time, the children should be approximately of the same age and size, according to Thompson and colleagues.
Disclosure: The researchers report no relevant financial disclosures.
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