CoasterQuest.com Safety Tip of the Week -7

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This is a laser tag inflatable device. It just came on the market this year, and I have found a few problems with it. First and foremost... this device gets EXTREMELY hot inside, and caution must be taken with children using this device to prevent heat exhaustion and fatigue. Second, as with any inflatable device...in the event of power failure, this device will quickly deflate, and if you're not quick enough to get the people out in time, there is a suffocation hazard from being trapped inside when the roof comes down on you. This is what it looks like inside this laser tag unit:

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The white tarps are just dividers hanging from the ceiling. This device has two exits on the same side, and also uses fog machines and strobe lights for effects. After being inside this sauna for a minute or two, I was so hot I had to get back outside. Keep this in mind.

This is a photo of another type of laser tag inflatable device. Let me be perfectly clear on something. ALL INFLATABLE DEVICES must be STAKED into the ground. Reason? A high wind will easily pick any one of these inflated devices up and send it soaring over the treetops with your children inside it. The above device is said to weigh over 2,500 pounds. One of the fellows I worked with actually witnessed one of these devices stand up on end with passengers inside. Winds can come suddenly and without warning, as we all know, so if you plan to let your kids go on one of these devices, then MAKE SURE that it is staked down properly, with ALL or the tie-downs that the manufacturer has provided.
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The only exception to the stakes is when they use weight bags tied in lieu of stakes. I hate these weight bags, because I don't see much difference between a 75 pound weight bag and the weight of a child. If it is going to clear the treetops with kids in it, then it will easily carry these weight bags with it also, and the only difference is that now you have an additional projectile hanging off the side of the device. Weight bags were meant to be used where stakes are not an option, like on concrete. If you hire someone to bring in one of these inflatable devices for your event, regardless of whether your state is responsible for inspecting them, you need to make sure they are staked properly. I go onto MANY job sites to find MANY inflatables not staked down properly and a lot of times not at all.

This is an inflatable device that has little obstacles and slides and such for the kids to play on inside. As with all inflatables, you need to MONITOR your children closely. ALL inflatable devices must have an attendant supervising its use. I came onto this inspection site to find many kids inside, with NO supervision. Why is this so dangerous? Power. It's all about power. If this thing loses power, it deflates...quickly. If someone holds either of the two entrances open too long...it deflates. Now, I'll show you a little something to look for... See the way the yellow and blue head on the left sticks up higher than everything else? Guess what will happen if this unit starts to deflate? Yep, the head will sag over. That is an indication that either it has lost power or someone is keeping the entrance open too long. There are two emergency zippers that you can use on this unit to evacuate kids in the event that it should lose power or any other emergency. Don't be afraid to use them. See the tie-down on the right side? It should have several of these.