Athens, Ga. – Eleven University of Georgia students will learn what a bounce house is-and how it is rented, anchored and used-all in the service of a better understanding of how bounce house accidents can occur.
The students are part of the summer GEOG 4911/6911 “Collaborative Research in Atmospheric Sciences” class. The seminar, “Meteorological and Policy Contexts of Bounce House Accidents,” is sponsored by the department of geography.
Members of the media are invited to cover the exercise Thursday, July 16, from 3-5:30 p.m. in the grassy area outside of the geography building between the physics and chemistry buildings on South Campus.
Bounce houses and other inflatable amusement devices are known to be vulnerable in windy weather.
“Our class has compiled about 40 such events worldwide in the past nine years, in which these devices have been lofted into the air or blown over in dust devils, waterspouts, post-cold frontal winds and outflow from thunderstorms,” said John Knox, associate professor and undergraduate coordinator who is leading the seminar.
“These bounce houses can rise up over two stories and fly down the street or across a park, endangering the children in them and terrifying their parents and loved ones. We’re investigating these accidents, compiling information on the weather conditions and studying the state-by-state regulations regarding the use of bounce houses.”
