HUPPEN BURG TRAYOTION: Children fall into the depths of storm!

Accidents with bouncy castles are increasing: strong gusts of wind endanger children at events worldwide. Note safety instructions.
Accidents with bouncy castles are increasing: strong gusts of wind endanger children at events worldwide. Note safety instructions. (Symbolbild/NAG)

HUPPEN BURG TRAYOTION: Children fall into the depths of storm!

A shocking incident occurred at a school festival in Krugersdorp, South Africa, when a strong wind grew caught a bouncy castle and hurled into the air. This happened at the Laerskool Protearif, west of Johannesburg. The bouncy castle was thrown up to 12 meters high in the air, while several children played on it and crashed. In this incident, two children are probably seriously injured: one suffered a broken skull, the other an arm fracture. Thanks to the quick intervention of parents and the bystanders, worse things could be prevented. The injured children immediately received medical help, while other children were put into a shock state.

Similar incidents are known worldwide and are increasing according to lvz.de . These tragedies are often due to insufficient securing of the bouncy castles or a lack of supervision. There have been several similar accidents in Germany in recent years, most recently in 2024 in Krefeld. However, a tragic misfortune in Tasmania was particularly fateful in 2021, in which five children lost their lives.

incident in Switzerland

Another worrying event took place on Saturday afternoon in Appenzell, Switzerland, during the event "FM1 Hüpfurgen-Pass". Here, too, an unexpected wind gust lifted the bouncy castle and turned it to the side, which led to panic reactions among those present. Video recordings document the shocked children who got under the bouncy castle. While a girl scored a shock and had to be looked after medically, no serious injuries were reported. Parents acted quickly and brought out the children under the bouncy castle, which mitigated the seriousness of the Situation.

The event manager Paddy Schai said that the bouncy castle was damaged by the unexpected gust, although the weather forecast had not reported a wind. After the incident, additional safety measures were implemented for the next day, including the reinforcement of the bouncy castle with a 1.2 meter long bolt. In Switzerland, 38 accidents with inflatable play equipment were registered in Switzerland in 2024, eight of them were due to wind gusts.

increased safety regulations

From January 2025, stricter safety regulations apply in Switzerland. Operators must have special security certification for bouncy castles and develop an emergency plan for weather extremes. In Austria, the security requirements were also tightened according to similar incidents. In the event of wind strength, operators must make 3 additional anchorage to ensure the safety of the children.

like the show4you.de , the safety of children is of the utmost importance when using bouncy castles. Wind strength plays a crucial role in the security of these systems. Viburgers are safe until wind strength 4, provided they are properly anchored. In the case of wind strength 5, it is recommended to anchor all fortifications in the ground, while operation should be set at wind force 6, since bouncy castles can become unstable in this situation.

The incidents in Krugersdorp and Appenzell illustrate the dangers associated with the use of bouncy castles, especially in bad weather conditions. Parents and operators are required to show vigilance and take the necessary safety precautions to protect the health of the children.

Details
OrtLaerskool Protearif, Krugersdorp, Südafrika
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