Beware of Flying Jumpy Castles!

A big, inflatable bouncy castle might be the most effective way to advertise "HAVE FUN HERE!"    But buyers: Beware. 

I just read a crazy story in the news about how 13 children were injured after a huge, inflatable dinosaur-shaped bouncing castle was lifted off the ground by a massive gust of wind. Dude. Awful.

There have been several of these scary stories in the past few months about "jumpy" castles and other CITs (closed inflatable trampolines). These temporary inflatable structures are generally rented or procured for special events and functions, school carnivals, holiday festivals, etc. and used for recreational purposes. Mainly: jumping. :) Children LOVE them. I've never met a kid that didn't flip-out at any opportunity to play in one. HELK, I LOVE THEM, TOO! Who doesn't love a freakin' jumpy castle?

Seriously though. Don't keep your kids from playing in bouncy castles, man. They are just too much fun. One of the purest pleasures in life. Just take precautions. Make sure the weather is fine and that everything is safely secured to the ground. And then, for added weight, maybe you should get in and jump yourself. Just to be safe.