'Bounce house' injuries prompt worries among local parents

NORTH PALM BEACH, Fla. - Dramatic images of a bounce house whipping in the wind and crashing to the ground have parents across the nation on edge. The scary moments caught on tape in New York are also having an impact on some party supply businesses here in South Florida. Three bounce houses, each full of kids, went flying through the air before crashing to the ground in the community of Oceanside.

The disturbing images were in the minds of parents at a high school graduation party in North Palm Beach. "I was scared to death! And of course we had these ordered.", said Diana Thompson, who had already rented two 20 foot tall inflatable slides, similar to those involved in the New York incident. What happened in that state has happened nearly a dozen times in other states this year. Experts urge taking the weather, specifically the wind, into consideration when using a bounce house or other large inflatable.

Rod Maldonado, the owner of Kids Bounce 4 Fun in Palm Beach County, said he already does everything he can to keep his customers safe. Maldonado uses longer stakes, stronger harnesses and keeps close watch on wind speeds. "Maybe a thousand pounds. And if it hits one of the kids when it's flying around like that, it could really be very dangerous," said Maldonado. "Now we are definitely going to try to be more cautious."

The 13 children who were injured in New York last week should all make full recoveries. Local experts said wind over 20 miles per hour is a concern. With winds over 30 mile per hour, everyone should be ordered off the inflatable house or slide and it should be deflated. Maldonado said he and his colleagues are open to tougher regulations that would help keep people out of danger.