When you imagine a bounce house, there are typically a few common features and ideas that come to mind. These frequently include the large, towering vinyl walls, the rhythmic hum of the blower as it generates air through the structure, the vibrant colors that can be seen from miles away, and the laughter of kids as they bounce and leap through the air in pure bliss. One thing that few people think about when picturing a bounce house is the safety nets present in every wall (and occasionally the roofs) of each inflatable bouncer. This is unfortunate, as this netting is one of the most vital pieces to preserving safety when bouncing this summer.

Safety nets are essential to maintaining the safety of anyone, at any age, who wants to spend the day having fun in an inflatable bounce house. The netting is woven from tough string and rope-like materials, soft to the touch, yet strong enough to take a beating from even the rowdiest party. These nets are present in every single bounce house that allows its users to go inside of it, and commonly acts as the walls of the bounce house. Sometimes, to fit the special, specific theme of the bouncer, the netting can take the form of a window or door frame.

The primary function of the nets is to keep the users of the bounce house from hopping off of the bouncing area and accidentally hurting themselves. Without the nets and walls, an inflatable bouncer becomes little more than a dangerous trampoline. One wrong bounce on an odd angle can send the bounce house user sailing to the ground, likely causing an injury and putting a stop to the festivities. With the netting in place, the inflated frame of the bounce house becomes connected together, preventing careless accidents from occurring. Children can jump at these netted walls all they want, but will not be able to tear through to the outside. In fact, the netting can provide an extra spring to the bounces, making for a more exciting time inside of the inflatable. When all the jump house users have entered the inflatable, the netting and walls can be sealed by a line of Velcro in one side of the structure. When the Velcro is pulled apart, it acts as the entrance to the interior of the structure. Users may accidentally jump at the Velcro entrance, but if it is properly sealed before the bouncing begins, top to bottom, the Velcro will hold strong.

In addition to keeping the bounce house users safely in the jump area, the nets are also vital in that they provide a substantial amount of air and oxygen to the bouncers inside of the structure. Even though air is being generated by the blower and pumped throughout the walls of the bouncer, none of that air travels into the bounce house area. If it did, then the entire structure would begin to deflate and the entire purpose is defeated. This is where the safety netting becomes so valuable. When the nets are constructed, they are woven tight enough to form a physical strong wall, yet loose enough to allow for the formation of small air holes. These air holes are present immediately next to one another, and are present from top to bottom, leaving no shortage of air to be found in or near a bounce house set-up. Without this essential safety netting, bounce houses could only be considered an unfinished concept.