Every parent or caregiver wants to make their kids’ birthday parties memorable. Let's make sure they are safe too!
A great deal of planning and thought is involved in every aspect of the kid's parties and there seems to a checklist for everything.
But there is a list that is often overlooked and it’s possibly the most important.It’s the safety checklist.
Many parents get stressed out about birthday parties, especially with the responsibility of looking after a number of kids. Kids can behave unpredictably when they’re over-excited and accidents do happen. Being secure in the knowledge that they’ve gone through a comprehensive safety check will help lower their stress levels.
A checklist of Do’s and Don’t is really useful particularly if the party activities include something really physical, such as a jumping castle.
The following safety hints come from a Perth jumping castle hire company which has years of experience in the industry. They haved the following advice.”Most accidents happen due to a lack of supervision, so it is a good idea to go through this checklist well before the party begins.” Allstar Jumps in Tucson follows these safety tips to make sure your kid's party is fun and safe.
ALWAYS
* Only use a reputable jumping castle hire company
* Ask to see the safety certificate of the equipment
* Make sure there’s a safety switch to the power supply
* Ensure that a trained operator sets up the equipment and if possible, supervises the activity or at least, trains a responsible adult to do so
* Be mindful of the weather – the castle must not be used in high winds over 25 knots
* Double check the anchorage system is completely secure
* Check the equipment to identify any wear and tear.
* Safety mats should be used around the jumping castle and at the entrance/exit
* The surface area needs to be at least 900mm wide, and should be as flat as possible (any hard surface eg grass, concrete). Sand is not a suitable surface.
• Ensure the blower is at least 1.2m from the castle
* Check there are no sharp objects anywhere near the bouncy castle
• Remove items such as belts, shoes and jewellery that could damage the bouncy castle and cause injury to others
* The jumping castle has to be supervised AT ALL TIMES by a responsible adult
* Deflate the castle when people have finished using it to ensure no-one can use it unsupervised
• Ensure that the operators have public liability insurance
NEVER
• Don’t allow older children to jump together with younger children
* Don’t allow users to climb up the walls of the castle
• Don’t deflate the castle while in use
* Don’t allow anyone to throw objects (or people !) onto the inflatable
* Don’t deliberately wet the surface (ie. with a hose or bucket of water). Soxon Castles advise that jumping castles can be used in the rain, but caution that the surface will be more slippery.
Soxon’s view is that jumping castles which have so-called ’safety barriers’ are not ideal.Their view is that these barriers are dangerous because they collapse when someone leans on them, which can cause injuy.They suggest castles should have steps or a ramp for easy access and exit.
This checklist will put a spring in your step at your next party!
