Trampolines are a lot of fun, and great for you too – just 10 minutes on a trampoline provides the same aerobic benefit as half an hour of running!
The problem is, trampolines can also be dangerous.
In the US almost a quarter of a million children receive medical treatment for trampoline injuries every year, with approximately 100,000 being hospital admissions. New Zealand doesn’t gather specific data on trampoline injuries, but clearly trampolines are the source of way too many injuries here too.
There are no mandatory minimum safety standards to protect consumers in New Zealand, so injuries caused by dangerous trampolines are very much a case of ‘buyer beware’. You can reduce the risks however. Below are 10 tips for enjoying trampolining without the injuries.
Trampoline Safety Tips
1. One at a time – Multiple jumpers increase the risk of injury from collision. Statistics show that with more than one simultaneous user, the smaller/lighter of the two is almost always the one sustaining an injury.
2. Don’t flip out – Untrained jumpers run the risk of landing awkwardly. Join a trampoline club to learn the correct skills if you want to try the tricky stuff!
3. Avoid roughhousing – Kids love to rough and tumble, but using a trampoline as a ‘fight mat’ is likely to result in injury.
4. Let Fido watch from the ground – While the family pet may love to have a turn, this can cause collisions and damage to the trampoline.
5. Keep it clean– Trampolines should be void of foreign objects. Any new object introduced to the trampoline is another potential cause of injury.
6. Stand watch – Keep an eye on children and inexperienced jumpers while they are on the trampoline.
7. Steer clear – Do not allow children or pets underneath the trampoline while someone is jumping.
8. Stay in control – Stay in the centre of the trampoline when you’re jumping, and take it easy when entering and exiting the trampoline too.
9. Talk it out – Discuss the importance of trampoline safety with your kids, and tell them about the risks of not using it properly.
10. Research your trampoline purchase thoroughly – If you’re choosing a trampoline with springs ensure the pads are up to the job (many pads appear sufficient, but even at the recommend safety standard the risks are significant – see the below link). A high quality safety net is an important safety feature.
Useful Links
Click here for more in-depth information about Trampoline Safety
Consumer NZ’s advice on trampolines
