Backyard parties, especially during this summer when the kids are off school, are more fun with bouncy houses - but lurking inside these inflatable houses is a dangerous threat parents should be aware of.
As Brenda Sanderson has discovered, bounce houses can also be a hotbed for staph infection. Her children recently went to a children's party that featured the colorful play area, but two days after the event, one of her boys started developing sores on his skin, according to Fox News Boston.
At first, Sanderson thought the marks were caused by skin friction with the inflatable plastic material and so she treated this with antibacterial ointment. The spots, however, didn't disappear. Instead, they grew in size and developed more sores soon after.
"It was oozing and when it was oozing it spreads... he said they were hurt to touch," she told the news outlet.
Checking with the doctor, Sanderson was told her 10-year-old boy had a staph infection.
Staph infection is caused by germs that can become fatal if left untreated, according to the Mayo Clinic.
"It is like a wrestling mat. Staph infections come from a gym or something that's not being washed or cleansed properly will start to create a bacteria," Sanderson's doctor told the mother.
The bounce house from the party was a rental and further investigations by Fox News Boston showed that the state does initiate regular inspections for these. However, these are mostly safety checks, not cleanliness assessments. Ed Kawa, from the Department of Public Safety in Massachusetts said, however, that bounce houses are required to be clean, as indicated in its manual.
Meanwhile, doctors advise the public, especially with summer going in full swing, to make sure that kids with open wounds wash up often to prevent any more infections.
If bounce houses are going to be a feature at backyard parties, health experts recommend cleaning the inflatables before and after use:
- Vacuuming helps remove debris.
- Wiping with an effective cleaning product sanitizes the surface.
- Washing and cleaning the area where the bounce house was set up is also recommended.
