Although inflatable slides are fun and safe, there are still a few rules to follow to be sure that nothing unexpected happens.



Inspection and insurance. Ask the inflatables rental agency what kind of safety inspections they use so you can be sure the equipment is safe. Rent only from businesses that carry liability insurance.

The slide should have constant adult supervision. All parents know it takes just a split second for kids to do something foolish and dangerous. There should be one parent or older teen at a party whose sole job is to watch the slide and make sure all the kids are playing safely.

Keep pets away. Inflatable slides are designed for humans and are not safe for the pets to play around. In addition, even trimmed claws and teeth can tear a hole in the fabric.

Keep an eye on the weather. The weather oftentimes seems to plot against us, waiting for the day of our outdoor party to turn bad. High winds can cause the slide to sway dangerously and rain can make the surface too slick to be safe. Lightning tends to strike the highest object and that just might be the slide or the child on top of it. If the weather turns sour, get the kids off the slide immediately.

Have drinks on hand. When playing on inflatable slides, kids will work up a real sweat. Children can get dehydrated quickly so have drinks available when they get off.

No food and drinks on the slide. While you'll want to have food and drinks on hand, make a hard and fast rule that kids can't take snacks onto the slide. You don't want to stain the fabric and risk paying additional cleaning fees.

No crazy antics. Kids have a tendency to get pretty wild and that's fine. However, you'll want to stop any over the top antics like climbing up the sides or a whole horde of kids coming down at once.

Keep the crowds away. Other activities should be a safe distance from the slide. Spectators are welcome, but don't let them hang off the side or get too close.

Same age only. If you have guests of different age ranges at your party, it is best to have certain times for certain age groups. You don't want your kindergartners crushed under a rush of hyperactive teenage boys.

Many of these tips apply to other outdoor inflatable rentals as well. The rental company will probably have their own set of safety guidelines for you to follow. Read them and follow them to ensure that everyone has a great time!