Montreal child’s death draws attention to bouncy castle safety
Bouncy castle safety: high winds can turn inflatables into deadly hazards. See why experts avoid setup in gusts and how to reduce injury risk.
A 3yearold girl died after a bouncy castle was lifted by strong winds in Montreal over the weekend, prompting renewed concern about the safety of inflatable play structures.
A Quebec rental company owner said she avoids installing or operating inflatables when wind forecasts exceed 38 km/h, noting that even properly set up structures can be moved by sudden gusts because of their large surface area.
Environment Canada said winds reached up to 50 km/h on Sunday afternoon during a church party in southwest Montreal. Eleven people were injured when a bouncy castle and a tent were blown around in the LaSalle borough, and officials noted that inflatable play structures are not regulated in the same way as amusement rides.