My review of Inflata Nation - Is it epilepsy friendly?


The summer holidays are coming to an end, back to school shopping has been completed and the countdown has begun.

To help round off the summer holidays on a super fun note we decided to have a big family day out to Inflata nation in Beverley. If you don’t know what Inflata nation it is basically a huge inflatable assault course type thing. It contains ball pools, slides, gladiator rings and an assault course.

Before we went we watched some advertising videos on Facebook and it looked amazing. Great fun for both the children, teen and adults.

We were lucky enough to book a session on the first day Inflata nation opened in Beverley.

Before I give you all my honest opinion on the place, and whether I feel it is epilepsy friendly, let me just tell you it was so much fun! Everyone enjoyed it. The children, the teen and the adults. Obviously, there were the usual dramas that seem to follow our family everywhere still occurred. The girl child dragged one of the family friends around the obstacle course and up to the slide so many times I was concerned he was going to have some sort of a heart attack, the small boy child nearly got lost in the ball pool, the husband got friction burn hurtling down the slide, and we had tears by the end of the day when the small boy child accidently headbutted the girl child. Of course, there was my usual dose of daily embarrassment. As only I could, I got stuck in the ball pool, buried under all the balls with just a hand sticking up like a snorkel! I had to be rescued by two members of staff! I often blame my epilepsy for my embarrassing public moments but this one was just my clumsiness and inability to stand on two feet for long!  

Obviously, there were a few teething problems, as to be expected on the first day. The first biggest problem I noticed, and the one I think is most dangerous for those with epilepsy, especially children, is the fact that it is open to small children, big children, teens and adults alike, all at the same time. There was a group of 6 or 7 rugby lads on the course at the same time as us. One of which took me and the girl child out while trying to get on the slide. Don’t get me wrong it was an accident and everyone was slipping and sliding around. It did, however, concern me that grown, rather large men, could be charging around at the same time as some rather small children. Now, I know what you might be thinking, I am an adult and I was on there as well. This is very true, I was indeed on there, chasing the children around, panting like a bull mastiff and failing to stay on my feet for more than 5 minutes. I was, however, following the children, and the teen (much to his embarrassment) , around. I wasn’t running at my friends trying to take them out, I wasn’t launching myself into a ball pit. I am all for adults enjoying themselves, but I do think there is a time and a place for adults, with no children, to attend these sorts of facilities. I believe they do have an adult only session on an evening. Maybe this would be better for those rugby practices.

Aside from that, I think it is a great experience for families and adults alike and I do think it is epilepsy friendly, if you don’t get flattened by Mr Muscle.

My strategy for getting through life with epilepsy is just to go with the flow. There are dangers everywhere, most activities pose some sort of threat to those with epilepsy. Most fun activities anyway. I am not ready to sit at home in my slippers doing jigsaws and watching day time tv. I like to have fun. I like to have fun with the family, which means just getting on and doing things even if they may be slightly more dangerous for me. If you are nervous about having a seizure with all the bouncing you could avoid the high traffic areas on the course, reducing the amount of times you get bumped around. I am sure as well if you informed the staff of your condition they would do their best to help and accommodate you. The staff were lovely, and one member of staff had me and my sister in stitches before we had even set foot on the course.

If you live near Beverley, step away from the jigsaw, get your anti-slip socks on and go have some fun.


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