Kids love trampolines and they do provide a lot of fun and excellent exercise. It’s also a way for children to expend all their un-corralled energy. Unfortunately, trampolines are the cause of numerous kinds of injuries, from broken limbs and permanent paralysis, to death.
A report from the Journal of Pediatric Orthopaedics(JPO) states that between 2002 and 2011, over 1 million people went to an emergency room because of trampoline accidents, with almost 300,000 of them suffering broken bones. Medicals costs for these visits totaled over $1 billion, of which $400 million was medical care for fractures.
Other statistics from the JPO included the following:
Most fractures (92.7%) happen to kids 16 years and under.
Approximately 59.9% of fractures were to the upper extremities, while 35.7% occurred to the lower extremities. This includes broken forearms, elbows, ankles, the tibia and the fibula.
Fortunately, only 1% of fractures were to the spine, and 2.9% to the skull or face.
Dr. Randall T. Loder, M.D., IU School of Medicine Department of Orthopaedic Surgery Chairman was quoted in a Huffington Post explaining why injuries occur to so many children: “Younger kids may not understand potential outcomes of their actions [jumping higher with a lot of force], but they’re not so much risk takers. Teenagers, they’ll just push the limit.”
Because there are so many trampoline-related injuries occurring in family backyards, (95.1% of all fractures), the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP), in 2012, actually advised parents and children against recreational trampoline use.
Trampoline injuries can be avoided
Injuries frequently occur on trampolines because of multiple jumpers colliding, jumpers falling onto the springs or frame of the trampoline, or people falling off of the trampoline while jumping.
You can avoid trampoline injuries by considering the following safety tips.
Only allow one person at a time to jump on the trampoline.Always supervise and “spot” your children when they are using the trampoline. Children under six years of age should not use a full-sized trampoline.If your children use a ladder to access the trampoline, be sure to remove it when they are done to prevent small children from climbing onto the trampoline unsupervised.Unless your children are being instructed in gymnastics’ class, do not permit them to do somersaults on the trampoline, as they can result in landing on the neck and head and could cause paralysis.Make sure the trampoline has shock-absorbing pads that completely cover its frame, springs, and hooks.Trampolines should always be located away from trees, structures, and other play areas.To help prevent falls off of the trampoline, install a durable screened enclosure.
Please, keep your children safe out there.
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