Fatal bounce house incident a warning to keep kids safe

A staple of children's birthday parties and school carnivals, inflatable bouncers like bounce houses and moonwalks can be a parent's nightmare due to injury risks.

A 2-year-old toddler died last month in Casa Grande after the bounce house several children were playing in was blown into a neighboring lot. According to the Nationwide Children's Hospital, hospitals have seen an increase in inflatable bouncer-related injuries. More than 30 children a day, or about one child every 45 minutes, are treated in a hospital emergency department for an inflatable bouncer-related injury.

Here's how to keep your child as safe as possible in inflatable bouncers.

How to prevent injuries in bounce houses

You don't have to be a buzzkill to keep your child safe in these environments. According to the Nationwide Children's Hospital, here are the best tips to prevent injuries in an inflatable bouncer:

Only allow children 6 years old or older to play on these inflatables. Always have an adult chaperone around to watch over the environment.

If more than one child is on the bouncer, ensure the children are about the same age and weight.

Remove shoes, eyeglasses, jewelry and any objects from pockets before entering the bouncer.

If you are an adult chaperone, limit the rough play, tumbling, wresting or flips as these put your child at risk in or outside the bouncer.

Limit the children from playing near the entrance or exit of the bouncer.

If the bouncer loses air, everybody should carefully exit the bouncer.

How to properly set up a bounce house

There are certain things an adult must be aware of if setting up a bouncer inside or outside a building. Here's what Nationwide Children's Hospital recommends.

If setting up an inflatable bouncer inside, ensure the ceiling is several feet above the bouncer and the room has hard floors. Always place the bouncer away from walls and make sure there is a soft surface for children to land on near the entrance and exit of the bouncer.

If inflatable bouncers are set up outside, many of the same rules apply. The bouncer should always be placed on a flat surface away from rocks, sticks or objects that may be sticking up from the ground such as sprinkler systems.

A soft surface should also be placed around the entrance and exit of the bouncer; open space should be maintained on all sides of the bouncer. The bouncer should also be set up far away from any obstructions like power lines or tree branches.