Bouncy castle tragedy raises safety questions for inflatables
A 3-year-old girl died in LaSalle when high winds swept a bouncy castle into the air. Experts say the structures aren't regulated like amusement rides.
A three-year-old girl died Sunday when a bouncy castle was tossed into the air by strong winds during a church gathering at a park in LaSalle, drawing attention to how little oversight these inflatable structures receive.
Environment Canada recorded wind gusts up to 50 km/h during the incident. Eleven people were injured in the same event when both the bouncy castle and a tent were swept by the wind.
Unlike amusement rides, inflatable play structures are not regulated by the provincial agency that oversees construction of buildings and other facilities. Cathy Denis, owner of an inflatable-structure rental company in Quebec, said she doesn't install or operate bouncy castles or similar inflatables when forecasts call for wind speeds exceeding 38 kilometres per hour. She noted that inflatables present a large surface area, and sudden gusts can move the structures even when they are properly installed.
The incident underscores the gap between what's required for permanent amusement infrastructure and what applies to temporary event equipment — a gap that had gone largely unnoticed until now.