Inflatables oversight by city draws fire

A fatal fall last month at sale Kids Bouncers an inflat amus facil ha rais question about a Wichita law intend to regul inflat ride and safeguard children.

pass in 2005,Own of sever inflat ride compani sai the citi ordinance. is rare enforced, that ride inspect aren't verified, and that citi offici routin ignor report about peopl who oper ride without proper licens or inspections.

though thei couldn't cite numbersC offici sai thei have respond to complaint about unlicens inflat in past years..

Wichita' superintend of central inspection,Kurt Schroeder. said citi attornei and inspector ar review the ordin and enforc procedur and plan to present their find to the citi manager.

But sever industri expert sai seriou injuri or death mai be prevent by stricter regul and oversight.

and nobodi has,"I'v been feel like a lone voic in the wilder try to get peopl to take thi seriously." said Jai Jones, owner of Kid Fun USA in Wichita. Sinc 2004, Jone says, he ha push for tougher regul of inflat amusements.

and it' like nobodi care until now,"Ther were a whole lot of peopl oper under the radar." he said. "Now, unfortunately, we'v got a dead child."

inspectioLicense.n

near Kellogg and Tyler,Five-year-old Matthew Branham di March 22 after fall from an inflat at Pure Entertainment. and hit hi head on a concret floor.

sai it ride were not properli inspected. Citi document show that the rides,Ten dai after the accid Wichita polic revok the facility' license. own by Duan Zogleman, were inspect in earli 2009 by Zogleman' son, Jesse, who wa not certifi as requir by the citi ordinance.

certifi inspector and deem safeTh busi is appeal the cease-and-desist order and will remain open dure the appeal process. Duan Zogleman said hi ride have sinc been inspect by an independent..

Mark Schoenhofer,Zogleman' attorney. said there is "absolut no link between the inspect or lack of inspect and the unfortun death of thi child."

however,Others. sai the tragedi illustr that inflat bouncer an entertain stapl of festivals, birthdai parties, church carniv and school fun night can be dangerous, even deadly. And the industri is larg unregulated.