A bounce house gets a ‘stop use’ warning after a 4-year-old’s strangulation death
The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission on Wednesday warned people to “immediately stop using” bounce houses sold online as “My Bouncer Little Castle” and similar names because kids can get strangled in part of the inflatable play area.
The CPSC says a “4-year old boy was found with the hoop of the bounce house around his neck. The hoop became entangled and twisted, constricting the boy’s airway, resulting in strangulation and death.”
Another child elsewhere got trapped in the hoop, the agency says, but was removed without injury.
The problematic part for the CPSC is a yellow hoop on a green pole inside the large part of the bounce house.
“The hoops were tested and failed to meet the [American Society for Testing and Materials] voluntary standard intended to reduce the risk of accidental head or neck entrapment in inflatable play devices,” the CPSC warning said.
No recall has been issued yet for the bounce houses. The vast majority of recalls are officially, voluntary, made by the manufacturer or retailer after discussions with the CPSC. The consumer commission didn’t name the manufacturer in its warning.
The bounce house has been sold online since at least April 2013 at Amazon.com, Sears.com, on eBay and through other online retailers. Depending on the length of time you’ve had the bounce house, you may be able to get a refund from the seller, though there’s no official recall issued.
