It all started as a normal suburban Saturday, we had a birthday party to go to for one of my sons friends at a local sports dome. They had a big soccer game planned (amazingly organized by the birthday boys parents), followed by pizza and cake. After the kids enjoyed some food they were able to go back into the dome where the dome had set up a big bounce house very similar to this one from Ninja Jump (just a different theme) a company from California.
The boys were all playing and having fun in here. I started thinking that someone was going to get hurt, but never thought that there was a risk like what happened today. The house has black mesh sides and it is very hard to see inside.
I watched my kids playing inside and moved around checking on both and chatting with a fellow parent who's son is in my son's class. All of the sudden my son starts crying and then screaming and crying and screaming. I went over to him and started talking to him through the net, I thought other kids were just bugging him so I told him to come out. The opening was all the way on the other side. He starts really screaming at the same time that another boy is pulling on his leg, so I yell for him to stop and to my son to get out now. He screams even louder and one of the other kids tells me that he has this rope wrapped around his neck. I look above him and see this green rope, and I look at my son who is grabbing at his neck.
It was all in a split second. I didn't do anything but run. I threw down my water bottle, purse and kicked my shoes across the sports dome as I ran around this thing. I ran up the slide and immediately knew I could not pull him up so I jumped down beside him and tried pushing him up to get slack and free the rope. It wouldn't work, it was as tall as me. I start begging for this kid at the top of the slide to help me pull him up, what that poor boy must have been thinking... but he did nothing. The father of the birthday boy and his sister must have heard me because they both came running in and he grabbed my son and pushed him up, removed the cord and pulled him out.
See the red line, that is a rope that hangs down the part where they climb up to go down the slide. This rope just hangs there, it isn't fastened at the bottom or anything...
That is where I found my son hanging with a rope wrapped around his neck.
I was in shock... I followed his sister out of this death trap and immediately went to my son who was crying. I felt like I was going to vomit, I was shaking and wanted to freak out and yell. I wanted to know how this happened. Kids start telling me that some boy wrapped it around his neck and pushed him,they are pointing at all these different kids. I just sat there and hugged my boy. His little sister even came over and started rubbing his back to make sure he was okay.
I just wanted to leave, but I knew that there was no way I could drive these two kids home. I was so shaken up and all I could do was stop myself from vomiting all over the ground. Some other parents distracted my son and got him to go off and kick around the soccer ball. By the time I was a little calmer I asked him if he wanted to leave and he said no, so we stayed for a little while longer.
I just needed to stop shaking...
My 6 year old son was able to tell me exactly what happened and describe how scary it was. He is upstairs with my hubby at 10:30pm because he is too scared to sleep. Totally understandable after the day he had.
If I had decided to go sit down on one of the chairs 10 feet away I might have not heard him, I would not have checked to see what was going on... and who knows if another kid would have. Since instead of yelling for help they pulled on his leg to just pull the rope even tighter.
He is okay, his neck has rope burn. My shoulder has gotten so sore that I can barely move my arm, but that doesn't matter. He is alive, at this time that is all that matters.
I am so thankful for Brian who rescued him, because no matter how hard I tried I didn't have the strength. The poor guy is still shaking himself.
My kids will never set foot inside another bounce house again, and I urge everyone reading this to take a long hard look before they let there kids in one.
59 comments:
Holy crap. I have heard of them collapsing, of the lead in the plastic, but this is a whole new problem.
What a terrible fright. Thank goodness everyone is okay.
Don't second guess anything you did. YOU WERE THERE. And wherever there is a bounce house? I will be too. Thanks to your post.
Wow what a scary day. I'm so glad he's okay. xo
So glad he's ok, and I'm so sorry that you and your kids had to go through this today. My son loves bounce houses, but they've never been in that kind. Just the open jumping space ones. Like I said on facebook, I'll avoid any event that has something like that. (Hugs) You're an awesome Mom for being there and keeping such a close eye on them.
Thanks for sharing this awful moment. It is a cautionary tale. I will never allow my daughter in one ever again!
Thankfully you are all okay!
Stacey
Wow. And one wonders moms are always tired - we always have to be on alert - because you never know when something crazy like that can happen. Some call us overprotective - but ...you just never know. Thank God you were there!
Wow, sending it on to my family and friends. They are all very fond of them. Praise the Lord you were right there!
omg, i would have freaked out! I never let my kids jump in bounce houses and walk awya. granted they are younger than your boy, but still. wow. i am tweeting your post to get the word out.
Thanks for sharing your story even though it must have been hard. My girls were in one of those a few weeks back - I would have never thought of that danger.
Thanks again for sharing.
Jody
That is horrific. I can only hope that your son's terrifying experience will help improve safety for others. Much love to you guys tonight, I hope you can get rest eventually.
Wow! This post made my stomach turn. I can't even imagine. I'm SO thankful your story ended up a good one! I have a 13 month old and I see the bounce houses ALL THE TIME! I will now take a 2nd look at them b/c I'm sure my baby girl will have these at parties she goes too. Thank you for posting this!! Sending hugs to you and your family!
Just terrifying. I'm so glad that you were there - and that he's okay. Hugs to him and you. xx
I am so, so glad that your son is alright. That is a horrifying experience, and it's terrible it even happened in the first place, though I hope it will prevent another child from having the same thing happen to him or her.
Am absolutely in tears reading this. I don't know you at all, but followed Ann's retweet from someone's link on twitter, and I am horrified as a mother of little kids. Thank you for sharing this.
Holy shit. What a horrible design for a bounce house. I've never seen one that had stuff like that on the inside but it just sounds dangerous. I'm so glad that your son is okay. At least physically okay. I hope that you forward this to the company who makes those bounce houses so that they can remove them from their inventory ASAP. *HUGS*
I'm sitting here sobbing for you and your family. Thank God your son is ok, but what a horrific moment. Thank you for sharing your story and alerting us on what COULD happen. Wow :(
wow, very scary. I'm glad he is okay. *big hugs*
I'm the same way with staying very close to my children when they are playing especially at big places or groups. I lost my 2 and a half yr old in a huge netted playground. It was soo scary Ive never let them go back. Thanks for posting even through it was likely very hard to relive.
Oh terrible! I hope you are calmer and feel a bit more at peace now. Thank goodness it turned out okay.
Did you report this to the company that makes the bounce house?
That sounds terrifying. We go to bounce houses sometimes and I pretty much follow my kids around like helicopter mom. Now I see that I am right to do so. I have never seen one with a loose rope like this; all the ones I have seen are sewn down every few inches. I will definitely be even more careful from now on!
That is totally frightening. I am one of those overbearing parents who are always within eye/arm distance of my little one, but after reading this I could care less what others think. Thanks for the warning!
That is absolutely terrible that that happened to your son! Thank God you were there to realize what was going on. I'm so glad he's okay, physically and hope and pray he will be okay emtionally as well!
I'll take caution when my lil man is old enough to go in bounce houses but will absolutely allow him to do so. This was a freak accident that seems to have more to do with the children {amount of?} than it does with the actual bounce house.
I'm so relieved, your title made me think one of your kids had died!
thank goodness ur son is alright. I can't help but wonder if someone complained after this rope should just be dangling there sounds like to be if was broken off and there should of been stitching to keep it down. Hope you filed a injury report w/ the park district
I am so glad that your son is okay! Did you ever find out who put it around his neck?
I don't have kids yet but your story has me shaking in shock and relief.
Truly, Thank God for sparing your son's life! I am so thankful that your story has a good ending, and am hoping it will spread far and wide to prevent similiar things at other parties!
I don't even know what to say. Glad you are all ok. I hope he recovers from it emotionally soon.
Thank you for sharing this post. I can't even imagine how frightening the whole situation was.
I saw this posted from a tweet and my stomach is knots. First and foremost, I am so thankful that your son was able to walk away and pick up a soccer ball. I hope he is okay emotionally as well. Also, thank you for being an excellent Mom. You were standing right there, keeping an eye on 2 kids, and at a moments notice you were there to help your son. I hope you all got some rest and that people take to heart the dangers of these things.
That is so unbelievably scary - I'm so glad that your son is okay.
I felt ill just reading that. So sorry that happened Lindsay. Thank god you were right there. xo
OMG Lindsay! What a terrifying incident. Thank God K is ok... You would never think that something like this could happen, in a kids bouncy castle which you'd think would be safe! Thankfully you were there and someone was able to help you. HUGS.
Oh Lindsay, that is too scary. So glad you and the other boy's dad were there close by and that he is ok. M went in one of those bigger bouncy castles for the first time this summer and I was nervous cuz I couldn't see him at all times. I never would have thought about loose ropes in them!!! How crazy.
Hugs to you all. I hope you are all recovering today
I am going to be calling the head office of this company tomorrow (Monday) and will deal with this... this is a design flaw that needs to be fixed. I will then be going back to the sports dome where this happened.
We don't know who did it, and probably never will. Sad to think that this boy thought that this was okay to do to another kid...
I really agree that this rope if it has to be there should have been tied at the top and bottom, it should never hang lose.
Thank you everyone for sharing. I have allowed my kids to go in bounce houses before, heck my 3.5 year old daughter was in it too yesterday. I really want parents to know of the danger with this certain type of bounce house, it is a 5 in 1 from Ninja Jump so that if they ever see one they either don't allow their kids in it or they watch them very carefully.
It never would have crossed my mind that a child could end up tangled like that in that red rope!
Thank God you were there.
Hugs to you and your baby...
I never would have even thought of this safety issue. OMG ... I am so glad your son is okay. Thank you for sharing this information with us.
I cried reading your post. Thank God your son is okay.
I always fear something like this. (freak accidents of sorts) so it's just even more scary.
OMG Lindsay, I read that post like I was there with you.. I have tears in my eyes for you and Kal.. I hope he is ok and that you are as well.. What a scary, heart wrenching day..
scary.... i'm glad your son is ok...
Sue the company, Linds. Save a child's life by doing so.
What a horrifying experience!!! I'm glad it all turned out okay, but *hugs* to you guys for having to go through that ordeal.
Thank you SO much for posting your story...I will keep my son away from this thing!
That is so scary. And you know, how many times are we at places like that and just chatting with other moms, assuming that our kids are completely safe playing.
So sorry you had to go through that and so thankful that he's OK.
i didn't even know there was a rope on one of these things. That is a truly horrifying story. It is a good thing you were there and I am glad your son is alive after that. What an awful day.
I can't even imagine. So glad your son is OK. Beyond frightening.
I am so glad that your son is ok after such a terrible ordeal. I do think that much of the blame falls on the child who wrapped the rope around his neck in the first place - as well as the boy's parent(s). If I were you, I would do some more investigating to find out who did it. It is incomprehensible to me that a child could do this to another child - and get away with it. There should be serious consequences for this type of behavior, which will only escalate as that boy gets older.
While I completely agree that the design of the bouncy house is flawed, a hanging/choking incident like that could only happen if a child takes it upon his or her self to wrap the rope around another child's neck.
While I'm sure you want to move on, as a parent I would want to address the person who put my child's life at risk to find some closure for all involved.
Good luck!!
praise God that you all saved him! that is incredibly scary though!
My stomach is in knots - I'm glad you had a good outcome to this scarey situation. I shall be on the lookout for anything now in those so called safe play areas....
Wow! We just had our kids' birthday party at a bounce place. What happened to you was really scary. At the bounce place we went to, most of the bouncies didn't have any ropes and the few that did, had them attached at intervals. I hope someone calls that bounce house company and reports this or you should report it here ASAP: http://www.cpsc.gov/talk.html
If it happened to you, it'll happen again and maybe something much worse could be the result.
I am so glad that you were there.
Thank you for sharing... It reminds us thaT we always need to vigilant. I hope you are all beginning to feel better.
You just never know ...you think these things are safe for kids...I hope everyone is okay after such a scary event...
That sounds absolutely horrifying! I am so glad to read that your son is doing as well as can be expected having just experienced something so terribly upsetting.
That said, I do think that as parents we need to keep in mind that our children are exposed to many dangers every single day. I agree with the OP that will still allow her children in bouncy houses, under supervision, as this seems to have been a freak accident rather than a regular occurrence.
Lets all keep in mind that statistically our children are far more likely to suffer an injury on the drive to and from the bouncy place than at it. Every day when we drive on our nations streets we are at far greater risk than in any other situation.
I can only imagine what you have been through today and I am very happy to hear that your son wasn't hurt more.
I can think of a number of ways a child could run into trouble with a rope hanging unsecured like that. It seems that it would be simple to make it more secure.
I have a website that spreads the news about recalls, and I would certainly report the incident to Health Canada if I were you. Here is their link to do that if you feel inclined:
http://hc-sc.gc.ca/cps-spc/advisories-avis/incident/index-eng.php
Thanks for sharing your story.
More hugs for you and K and the rest of the family. It is really a reminder that we can't leave our young kids unattended. I can't believe this dome didn't have an attendant at the bouncy house. I have never, ever seen one unsupervised and regulated for the amount of kids allowed in. This business needs to shape up, too.
Lindsay, I was crying as I read your post! I'm so connected to our 2004 kids that it felt like I was reading about my own child. I'm passing this story on to every parent I know!
Oh my goodness!! My heart dropped while I was reading this. Definitely a scary event, however, thank God that you reacted when you did and the outcome wasn't fatal. I will keep that in mind and share this with parents we know. Were you able to address the parents/child who did this? I hope they understand/stood that this is not something to joke about!
Oh my goodness! I am crying reading this and feeling shaky. I never NEVER thought about this, and I let my children play in bouncy castles.
I am so, so sorry this happened to your son, and sincerely grateful you shared this danger with us.
Praying for you and your sweet son.
i would hunt the kid down that did this and strangle him until he turned blue and then let go just so he'd know how it felt and teach him a lesson
OH MY GOD. I can't believe that happened to your son! MY GOD I was freaking out reading this the entire time! HOW SCARY. How awful. I'm SO sorry. So glad so many people have read this. I'm so glad he is okay... I can't even imagine the fear!
I am glad your son is ok. I have rented this bouncer, and it is not a red rope, but a red strap that is sewn every few inches so that it is handholds for children to grab onto when climbing up. There is no way a child can get their head caught in these handholds. If the rental company has not kept up on proper maintenance of the bouncer, I can see the stitching coming undone so that it would look like a rope, but fault would like with the rental company, not manufacturer. I always make sure to rent from a company that is reputable, and cares about the safety of children. There are many companies that only care about the bottom dollar.
Thanks for your comment Jennifer. It wasn't a rental company that this was from, it was a sports dome that owned it and used it as part of its parties.
After communicating with the manufacturer and dealing with TSA it was found that they made changes to this model but didn't recall the current ones being used. So unfortunately there are many out there just like this one, that have the same risk.
My sons story and the recent ones on the news show how dangerous these can be. I do believe that with proper use and supervision kids can enjoy them. I would just hope that if my child ever got in one again that I would be there to watch them.
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