Ever since the Olympics started including trampoline gymnastics in 2000, trampolines have become increasingly popular for home use. However, along with the increase in their use there has been an increase in trampoline-related injuries and deaths, with accidents nearly doubling from 1995 to 2005, according to University of Alabama Birmingham Medicine. Following the appropriate safety precautions, including keeping children who are too young from using full-size trampolines, can lessen the chances of injury.
Minimum Age
The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission says no child who is under the age of 6 should be allowed to use a full-size trampoline. This is because children under 6 have the highest injury rates when using trampolines, according to Texas Children's Pediatrics Associates.
Significance
Approximately 11 percent of those with trampoline injuries in 2001 were children under 5, according to the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission. Texas Children's Pediatrics Associates says 75 percent of trampoline accidents occur when more than one person is on the trampoline at the same time, with the smaller person being five times more likely to be injured. Even having an adult watch a child doesn't guarantee they will be safe, since half of all injuries occur under adult supervision.
Safety Precautions
They make special toddler trampolines for small children which have handles for them to hold on so they can bounce without falling. With children over 6, according to Health Canada, you should make sure that only one child is on the trampoline at a time and that there are four spotters supervising the child. Tricks such as somersaults shouldn't be done, and there should be no jumping onto or off of the trampoline. The trampoline should have all edges and springs padded, and should not have a ladder.
Warning
Putting safety netting around your trampoline will not prevent all injuries. According to Texas Children's Pediatrics Associates it does, however, reduce the chances of an accident happening by 1/3. They only keep children from falling off the trampoline and getting injured, and many injuries happen while on the trampoline, including collisions with other people or with the springs and edges of the trampoline and landing hard or improperly on the trampoline.
Expert Insight
The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends that trampolines never be used in home settings, on outdoor playgrounds or in regular physical education classes because of the high rate of injuries. Parents who want to keep their child active should find some other way to do this and not allow their children to play on trampolines at home or at friend's houses.
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