Should I buy
a trampoline?
Because of the high injury rate, the
American Academy of Pediatrics does not recommend the use of
home trampolines. If you are considering buying a
trampoline, consider other activities for your children
instead. Before making your decision, be sure to read injury
and safety information. There were over 111,000 injuries as
a result of trampolines in 2004.
What injuries
are caused by trampoline use?
Injuries to children playing on trampolines
are on the rise, mainly because trampolines have increased
in popularity. Serious injuries occur to all parts of the
body, including the neck, arms, legs, face, and head. Head
and neck injuries are the most serious injury associated
with trampolines. Neck injuries usually happen when children
try to do flips and land on their head or neck instead of
their feet. Every year many children are paralyzed for life
from a trampoline injury. The injury rate is highest for
children younger than 6 years old.
How are most
injuries caused?
Almost 75% of injuries on trampolines result
when more than one person is on the trampoline at the same
time. When two people use the trampoline, the person
weighing less is 5 times more likely to be injured than the
heavier person. Adult supervision is no guarantee that a
child will be safe on a trampoline. More than half of all
trampoline injuries occur while the child is being watched
by an adult. Having spotters around the tramp helps reduce
some of the risk of injury. Spotters need to be people big
enough and strong enough to protect the jumper if he should
get too close to the edge. Spotters are especially important
when your child has friends over to jump.
How can I
make trampoline jumping safer?
If your child already uses a trampoline, you
should follow these safety measures.
Location of the trampoline and safety
features:
- Clear the area around the trampoline
of objects and do not set the trampoline near trees,
fences, poles, or other playground equipment.
- Set the trampoline where an
energy-absorbing surface (for example, tall grass)
surrounds it.
- Buy and use a frame pad that covers
the entire area of the spring system.
- Enclosure netting reduces injuries by
about one-third. However netting does not prevent
crippling injuries from trampoline use.
- If possible, lower the height to
ground level by putting the trampoline in a pit.
Before using the trampoline:
- Set rules for trampoline use and
discuss them often with your children.
- Tell your children about the risks of
not using the tramp properly.
- Have your children remove any
necklaces.
Using the trampoline:
- Have someone properly train your child
how to do flips and other complex stunts.
- Never allow more than one person to
use the trampoline at the same time.
- Do not allow bouncing followed by
jumping off of the trampoline.
- Have an adequate number of spotters
around the edges of the trampoline.
