Posted by Greg Atwood on July 19, 2017 · Leave a Comment
By now I am pretty sure that all of us have either seen the ads for or been to one of the many trampoline centers popping up in a town near you. Or you are one of the many homes in American that have a trampoline in the yard. While I personally have nothing against trampolines, being in the EMS field I am always aware of the dangers they pose and what kind of injuries they would present with. While your own personal trampoline or the ones at the jumping center are a lot of fun there are some numbers I think you should have and recommendations you should be aware of before letting the kids bounce away.
The Statistics.
Nearly 100,000 people a year were sent to the ER with trampoline related injuries from 2010- 2014 and about a third of those were with broken bones and 92% of those were in children under 16. Injuries of the head and spinal cord were also reported in that time and represent the smallest amount but the most severe. In an American Academy of Pediatrics study they found that fractures were more common in younger children than adolescents and children under 6 years of age actually had the highest percentage of fractures with 47.8%. The study also revealed that while trampoline injures at home stayed around the same average per year, there is a growing and alarming number of injuries at trampoline parks with the national trend getting higher and higher.
The Recommendations.
The safety recommendations for trampolines are the same over a number of different studies. The American Academy of Pediatrics went to far as to recommend against the recreational use of trampolines for children in 2012, But seeing as how people are jumping now more than ever, they have put together a list of things you can do to keep your children and yourself as safe as possible while jumping. The recommendations are:
- Adult supervision at ALL times.
- Only 1 jumper on the trampoline at a time. Most injuries occur with multiple jumpers.
- No Flipping. Safety rules may vary at trampoline centers. Please check the rules before jumping.
- Adequate padding on the trampoline, all of its exposed parts. Frame, springs, poles. As well as Padding on the floor around the trampoline.
- Checking all equipment before jumping.
- Having the trampoline at ground level if possible.
- Having the trampoline clear of any overhead obstructions: Trees, Lines, Poles, House.
What to do.
Should an injury occur on a trampoline what to do will depend on the severity of the injury, but as I always tell people, if the thought to call 911 crosses your mind, go ahead and do it. Some injuries may be minor and require nothing more than some ice and elevation, but should the injury involve the head, neck, or spine, a loss of consciousness, or broken bones, then please let EMS handle it. They are trained and prepared to deal with these types of injuries.
As, always I hope you have a fun and happy summer and above all be safe!
