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Flying Bounce Houses - A Potentially Deadly Hazard For Kids
In this June 4, 2011, photo, participants in an Oceanside, N.Y., soccer tournament run from an ... More airborne inflatable "bounce house" after high winds sent it flying, scattering spectators and injuring 13 people, one critically. Saturday's inflatable mishap is the latest in a growing series of similar accidents, experts say. (AP Photo/Kim LoPiccolo)
This week large inflatables were blown onto one of Atlanta's busiest roadways. I drive in that busy corridor frequently, and it is stunning that the city was spared a major incident. According to media reports, owners blamed the early installation phase for the lack of anchoring. This latest episode of 'flying inflatables' was relatively harmless, but other incidents have led to injuries or fatalities. Is it time to ban inflatable bounce houses?
A boy plays in the bounce house at a pumpkin patch Tuesday, Oct. 9, 2018, in Seal Beach, Calif. (AP ... More Photo/Jae C. Hong)
The answer to that question is probably 'no,' but experts are calling for changes. My colleague Dr. John Knox is a meteorology professor at the University of Georgia. He is one of the world's foremost experts on atmospheric sciences, including aviation meteorology. I suspect he did not have 'flying bounce houses' on his scholarly bingo card alongside his work on clear-air turbulence. However, Knox and his collaborators have become the foremost research group in the world documenting windy conditions and large inflatable structures. According to a UGA website, 'Over a decade ago, Dr. John Knox saw a joke on Facebook comparing the phenomenon of runaway bounce houses to the scientific study of dust particles in the atmosphere. Several years and hundreds of hours of intensive, intricate research later, Dr. Knox now admits that bounce houses are no joke.' In 2022, he and colleagues published a study in The Bulletin of the American Meteorological Society entitled, "Wind-Related Bounce House Incidents in Meteorological, Regulatory, and Outreach Contexts."
At the time of publication, their analysis revealed 479 weather-related bounce house injuries and 28 deaths. The study also found that bounce houses are especially dangerous for children because they are often improperly anchored or parents are inattentive during play. Using data mining techniques and cartography, the team identified meteorological causes and connected them to incidents using geographical and social science methods.
I asked Knox what needs to be done short of banning inflatables. He told me, 'What should happen? Federal regulations on their use in windy weather (or in all weather) would be a good start.' He pointed out, however, that their 2022 study found that many incidents occur where the nearest weather observations show winds under typical thresholds used in the states that do have regulations. During the warm season when bounce houses are popular, thunderstorms or windy conditions can happen suddenly. Knox went on to say, 'So even national regulations wouldn't be perfect. But the process of implementing federal regulations would raise public awareness of the dangers.'
The rings represent outflow boundaries moving away from thunderstors. They can cause gusty ... More conditions suddenly that pose hazards for improperly secured bounce houses and inflatables.
Knox continues to maintain what is likely the most robust database of bounce house incidents in the world. The website also includes safety recommendations and information about how different states regulate bounce house activity. Some interesting facts found on the website as of May 31st, 2025 include:
The website also has accessible information on all known events spanning 2000 to 2025 and the associated weather types. What are some of the typical weather types connected to the events? They include cold fronts, dust devils, outflow boundaries, thunderstorms, Santa Ana winds, and sea breezes.
Researchers are increasingly questioned about the value of scientific research. Knox and his team's work is an exemplar of how multidisciplinary research spanning meteorology, cartography, geography, and other social sciences disciplines can inform decisionmakers and save lives. Knox said, 'This research is a prototype for the kind of work geographers can do…. And then the website development exhibits the community outreach angle that is classic geography. So, this is what geography looks like--no siloes, everything together.'
PHOENIX, ARIZONA - MARCH 30: A dust devil blows amongst the fans during the final round of the Ford ... More Championship presented by Wild Horse Pass 2025 at Whirlwind Golf Club in Wild Horse Pass on March 30, 2025 in Phoenix, Arizona. (Photo by)
