How to play safely in a bouncy castle

Bouncy castles are pretty low on the list of things that parents worry about.

They've been the activity of choice for my 7-year-old son's birthday parties for the last two years. It's super easy for me: I call the bouncy castle guy, he comes and sets it up, and the kids are busy having fun for the duration.

Turns out, there's a possibility for some serious mishaps with these bounce houses and castles, moonwalks and inflatable slides. Three inflatables with children in them went airborne in New York last month, causing thirteen children and adults to be injured, including one woman quite seriously, putting bouncy houses and moonwalks under the safety microscope.

But such accidents are neither new nor rare. Rideaccidents.com tracks amusement ride accidents, including those on inflatables. The website links to dozens of stories of injuries and deaths.

When it comes to regulations for inflatables, there are no federal rules or industry standards. Permanent amusement parks, which may include an inflatables of one form or another, are regulated by the state and municipality in which they're located. Inflatable slides and bounce houses that move from place to place (like those that come to town with church carnivals and school fundraisers) must follow Consumer Product Safety Commission regulations. So there seems to be a bit of a donut hole in coverage of the bouncy house that you may rent for your child's party.

One of the first states to get tough on inflatables was New Jersey, which requires inspections and mandates that inflatables meet wind-anchorage and combustibility requirements. ASTM International, a voluntary-standards development organization, has created a standard for inflatables. While ASTM standards don't carry the weight of law, they may be referenced in laws or contracts.

What can you do? Proper set up and supervision are key. If you've rented the inflatable, make sure you understand how it should be operated safely. The operator should clearly explain all the rules to you. Ask to see the manufacturer's operating manual if you need to.

Follow these tips to keep kids safe while they're bouncing up a storm:

—Desiree Ferenczi