Emergency department presentations for injuries associated with inflatable amusement structures, Canada, 1990-2009.

Introduction: Inflatable amusement attractions, structures that are air-supported and inflated by a blower, have recently gained popularity. The purpose of this study was to describe the epidemiology of inflatable-related injuries presenting to Canadian emergency departments.

Methods: The Canadian Hospitals Injury Reporting and Prevention Program (CHIRPP) is an injury and poisoning surveillance system presently operating in the emergency departments of all 11 pediatric and 4 general hospitals across Canada. The CHIRPP was searched for cases of injuries associated with commercial inflatable amusement structures.

Results: Overall, 674 cases were identified over the 20-year surveillance period, during which time the average annual percent increase was 24.6% (95% CI: 21.6, 27.7). Children aged 2 to 9 years were the most frequently injured (59.3/100,000 CHIRPP cases), and fractures accounted for 34.5% of all injuries.

Discussion: A sharp increase in emergency department visits for injuries associated with commercial inflatable amusement structures has been observed in recent years. Injury mechanisms could be mitigated by product design modifications and stricter business operational practices.