The Dangers of Trampolines
While many children may find trampolines fun, the risk of injury these apparatuses present easily outweighs the fun. Performing somersaults, flipping, jumping, and even just being on a trampoline while others are bouncing around can lead to children hitting the rails of the trampoline, flying off of the trampoline, and colliding with other children – all of which can result in serious injuries like fractures, head trauma, spinal cord injuries, and more.
According to the American Academy of Pediatrics, nearly 100,000 injuries were caused in 2009 by trampoline use. A Journal of Pediatric Orthopaedics study showed that between 2002 and 2011, more than 1 million people visited emergency departments for trampoline-related injuries, with most trampoline-related fractures occurring in children ages 16 and younger – a whopping 92.7 percent.
Trampoline Safety Tips
While the guaranteed way to prevent trampoline-related injuries is to stay away from trampolines and to get rid of a trampoline if you own one, there are ways to minimize the risk of sustaining injuries while still enjoying trampolines. Here are some safety tips regarding trampoline use.
- Make sure there is always adult supervision. While children can become injured even when an adult is present, they are more likely to exhibit risky behavior in the absence of adult supervision that could result in them injuring themselves or another child.
- Limit the number of people on the trampoline at a given time to one person. Having more than one person on the trampoline not only increases the likelihood of someone being injured, but there is also the possibility of the trampoline’s weight limit being breached, which could cause the trampoline to weaken and possibly break.
- Cover the springs of the trampoline. There have been many instances of children jumping on trampolines without spring covers that have jumped and have had one leg land on the trampoline while the other leg goes in between two springs, resulting in serious injuries.
- Put a safety net around the trampoline. Too often to children jump, flip, or somersault off of a trampoline due to the lack of a net.
- Do not flip or perform somersaults. Even if a child does not flip off of the trampoline, how they land could leave them with neck and spinal cord injuries.
- Make sure the trampoline is on level ground. Jumping around on an unstable trampoline could result in the trampoline moving or flipping over.
- Do not use a trampoline during inclement or windy weather. If a trampoline is icy or wet, a child could easily jump, land, and slip, which could cause them to injure themselves. When it is windy outside, it is rather easy for wind to catch under a trampoline and flip it in an instant, so it is crucial to refrain from trampoline use during such conditions.
Children should be able to have fun, but their safety is top priority. With so many children being injured due to trampolines, it is imperative to know how you can keep your child safe. If your children do use a trampoline, just be sure to implement these tips to keep the little ones safe.