Quebec girl’s death raises questions about bouncy castle rules

The death of a threeyearold girl in Montreal after a bouncy castle was lifted by strong winds has renewed concern about the safety of inflatable play structures and the lack of provincial regulation in Quebec. The child, identified by her father as Ava Ciampini, was one of 11 people injured when the inflatable was blown away during a community event in LaSalle borough on Sunday afternoon. Environment Canada reported gusts of about 50 km/h at the time. CBC News found that Quebec has no specific rules governing the rental of inflatable games, even though weatherrelated incidents have been reported around the world. Experts say inflatables can become airborne in winds that are not especially strong, and injuries can happen from falls, impact with the structure, or contact with power lines. Some other jurisdictions, including parts of Ontario, New Brunswick, and Nevada, do have safety rules for inflatable amusements. In Nevada, operators must anchor equipment properly, inspect it before use, and stop operations if wind speeds exceed 24 km/h. Montreal police and the coroner are investigating the death, and recommendations may follow.