Five children were hospitalised after two separate jumping castle incidents involving high winds in Victoria and New South Wales. Near Geelong, two children were thrown from an inflatable at a birthday party and suffered upper-body injuries. In Sydney, two children and an infant were injured in a separate incident.
Amusement ride and playground safety expert David Eager explained that Australian inflatable amusement rides are subject to state and territory health and safety legislation and relevant Australian Standards. Inflatable rides must be securely anchored and should not operate when wind gusts exceed 40 kilometres per hour. Inflatables with a platform height of at least three metres must also be plant registered.
The exact circumstances of the two incidents were not known. The article noted that gusts of up to 90km/h had been forecast in Geelong and wind speeds of 80km/h were measured in Sydney. Eager identified weather as the greatest risk when a jumping castle is otherwise maintained and operated correctly.
The article also highlighted concerns about imported inflatable castles that may not comply with Australian Standards. Eager said gaps remain in the safety regime and identified compliance, secure anchoring, weather monitoring and adherence to operating requirements as important aspects of inflatable safety.
