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White Hutchinson Leisure & Learning Group, Kansas City, MO, USA

Get real, this is a place for children?

If you have to sign your child's life away so that he or she can participate at a birthday party, is this really a place your kiddo should be going? Read an actual example of a waiver one nationally known company requires parents to sign, and you be the judge.

Our company was recently doing some research on the inflatable birthday party center industry and discovered something that shocked us about the 160 Pump It Up (www.pumpitupparty.com/ ) franchises located throughout the U.S. These are the 10,000- to 12,000-square-foot facilities that specialize in children's birthday parties and use inflatables as the main attraction.

If you want your child to use the center, you have to sign a liability waiver. Here's an extract from one, which you can find online. Just pick any location (www.pumpitupparty.com/ locations.aspx) and click on "print ready waiver at the bottom of the page):

I am aware that there are inherent risks associated with participation in Pump It Up programs, parties, and/or use of the play area and inflatable equipment and I, on behalf of myself and the participant(s) named below, knowingly and freely assume all such risk, both known and unknown, including those that may arise out of the negligence of other participants; and,

I, for myself and the participant(s) named below, and our respective heirs, assigns, administrators, personal representatives, and next of kin, hereby release and hold harmless, XXX Inflatable, DBA Pump It Up of XXXX, and PIU Management, LLC, their affiliates, officers, members, agents, employees, other participants, and sponsoring agencies from and against any and all claims, injuries, liabilities or damages arising out of or related to our participation in any and all Pump It Up programs, activities, parties, the use of the play area and/or inflatable equipment.

Imagine what the reaction would be if at the admissions gate for Walt Disney World (disneyworld.disney.go.com/ wdw/ parks/ parkOverview?id=ParkOverviewPage) or a Six Flags (www.sixflags.com/ national/ index.aspx) theme park parents were required to sign a waiver for their children. Or if your local parks department or school required parents to sign waivers before their children could play on playgrounds. If Pump It Up is more dangerous for children than going to a theme park or playground - enough that a waiver is required -- should children even be allowed to use the facilities? If it is that dangerous for children, we don't think Pump It Up is a place that any parent should allow their children to attend.

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