Very popular in summer, in fairgrounds or during birthdays, this game is extremely dangerous. The repression of fraud launches the alert.
Outdoor games for children are subject to special attention. The legislation is very strict on the materials used, the use which must be made of these games and age restrictions and many children apply for many of them. However, accidents still occur regularly. Most often due to a lack of vigilance as to the installation and a non-compliance with the safety rules. The DGCCRF (Directorate General for Competition, Consumption and the Repression of Fraud) has recently diligent an investigation.
The conclusions of the report of the repression of the fraud are alarming. The organization points to several major security problems on inflatable structures much appreciated by children. Investigators checked 470 sites (amusement parks, fairgrounds, campsites and places managed by a local authority) and 326 were pinned by the DGCCRF, an anomaly rate of more than 70 %!
The first problem concerns the fixing systems. The most frequent anomaly concerns the absence of fixing anchor points, their insufficient number, or the use of equipment with signs of corrosion. Wind speed control is also often faulty, while normally, the use of inflatable structures outdoors is only possible when the wind blows at a maximum of 38 km/h. The other concern concerns the blower, wiring and controls, too often left accessible to the public. The risk of electric shock or disconnection of the inflatable structure, and therefore of deflation, is then considerable.
As for the annual control (to be carried out by professionals) from which professionals must escape, and which makes it possible to record the maintenance operations carried out and those to be provided in monitoring documentation, they are most often not carried out.
The repression of fraud therefore calls parents to the greatest vigilance and recommend “to be attentive to the general condition of the structure, to pay attention to the wind and the number of children present in relation to the capacity of the structure … and to always monitor your child when he plays, even if supervisors are present“.
Indeed, no one has forgotten the terrible accident on July 30, 2023 at the Wonderland Park in Saint-Maximin-la-Sainte-Baume (Var). An inflatable structure had gone, taking a father and his four -year -old daughter. The latter was seriously injured in the accident, and the elderly man 35 lost his life. Last September, a new incident occurred in Gallargues-le-Montueux (Gard). This time, nine people were swept away, three of them were slightly injured.
