A man who claims he was severely injured in a fall from an inflatable Velcro climbing wall at a McHenry County park in 1999 is suing the company that provided the wall.

In a lawsuit filed this week in Cook County Circuit Court, Joseph Walker said he was a guest at the Follett Library Resources Inc. company outing and was hurt while navigating an inflatable obstacle course set up for the outing.

Walker is seeking more than $50,000 in damages.

Allison O’Hare, a spokeswoman for Follett Library Resources, said the company was unaware of the lawsuit and could not comment. Walker’s attorney did not respond to repeated attempts for comment.

Inflatable attractions, which include backyard bouncers, moonwalks, obstacle courses, sumo suits, Velcro climbing walls and slides, have become familiar sights at both public and private events. As the popularity of inflatable attractions has increased, so have questions surrounding their safety.

“The major problem comes from the inflatable not being properly secured to the ground,” said Sue Hofer, a spokeswoman for the Illinois Department of Labor, which issues operating licenses to companies renting and selling inflatable recreations.

“The safety varies depending on who controls and supervises the inflation and who is supervising while (the inflatable) is being used,”
she said.

The state of Illinois lists inflatable attractions as carnival rides but does not require a licensed attendant to be on hand when one is rented for a private function such as a birthday party or company outing. The presence of a licensed attendant is required at events that are open to the public, such as town fairs and carnivals.

It is unknown if a licensed attendant was present at the 1999 Follett Library Resources outing.

David Spata, vice president of Fun Ones Inc. in Addison, said all the inflatable amusements rented from his company are set up and inflated by a licensed professional. But, he added, proper supervision is crucial to assuring the safety of everyone using the inflatable.

Fun Ones, which is a member of the Safe Inflatable Operators Training Organization, has licensed attendants available for customers throwing a private party at a cost of $100 for four hours.

Both Hofer and Spata say it is important that when inflatable recreation equipment is used, there are active and attentive supervisors on hand.

Courtesy of Meddill News Service