The life of any child is fraught with unforeseen circumstances, most of which ends in tragedy, like how the life of seven-year-old Summer Grant from Essex ended in tragedy when she partook in supposedly fun day at an Easter fair.
“Summer Grant was taking part in an Easter celebration at Harlow Town Park, in Harlow, organised by Thurston Fun Fairs when a ‘strong gust of wind’ blew it off its moorings,” said a report by The Daily Mail.
She found herself trapped inside the bounce house as it tumbled across the field. It is also believed to have blown over trailers and caravans in the park before finally landing down a hill.
READ: This popular children’s attraction can be dangerous for kids
“The girl, from Norwich, was rushed to hospital with serious injuries, but was later confirmed to have died.”
Meanwhile, the Essex Police arrested a 24-year-old woman and a 27-year-old man believed to be responsible for the bouncy house on suspicion of manslaughter by gross negligence.
According to safety expert Neil Gossage, the bouncy castle should never have been in use.
He told the Mirror: “This is a terrible thing to have happened. This inflatable should not have been installed with expected conditions. Castles should not be used when wind or gusts are in excess of Force 5 on the Beaufort scale. It shouldn't have been up at all.”
Dangers of bouncy houses
Although it is fun to look at and be in one, bouncy houses are not the safest things for children to be engaging in.
Other than the freak accident that cost Summer her life, bouncy houses can also cause staph infection to children: Although safety inspections are ensured, there are no requirements for them to be cleaned.
“It is like a wrestling mat,” one doctor said. “Staph infections come from a gym or something that’s not being washed or cleansed properly will start to attract bacteria.”
Staph infections are the most disease that children get from playing in bounce houses.
Staph infections are caused by staphylococcus bacteria, types of germs commonly found on the skin or in the nose of even healthy individuals.
The signs and symptoms of staph infection vary depending on the area affected, but here are some you should keep in mind:
- Skin infections
- Food poisoning
- Bacteremia (blood poisoning)
- Toxic shock syndrome
Read: Toxic shock syndrome: Tampons can cause heart attacks
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