Are Trampolines Always Dangerous?

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Are Trampolines Always Dangerous?

Thursday, August 7, 2008

Guest blogger Julie W: When a friend's daughter suffers a broken ankle on a trampoline, I thought, do I take my kids off for good?

Last week, my friend's 9-year-old daughter got severely injured on a trampoline. A much larger boy accidentally fell on her, and all the kids immediately knew she was badly hurt. Her foot was so broken, it was flopped over in what her parents describe as an S shape.

I have been too squeamish to look at the photo they took of it.

Emergency room doctors say they see many trampoline-related injuries. But should moms keep our kids away from the bouncy fun?

Friend of momlogic and pediatrician Dr. Gwenn gives us her take on the dangers of backyard trampolines:

"It never fails. In fact, not only can I count on this, so can you: 2 kids + 1 back yard trampoline = injury.

"The injury can be mild to major and can involved one or both kids but it WILL happen and often includes sprains, contusions, lacerations, head traumas, spinal traumas, dislocations, bumps, bruises and concussions. Safety nets don't prevent these from happening; they just prevent your kids from getting injured on the ground.

"You may think that most sound parents, including ourselves, would be swayed by the reams of data that support the dangers of trampolines and keep their kids off. But, more times than not, I hear parents say, 'What can I do? She (or he) just loves it so much!' This is usually mentioned to me during an evaluation for an injury, by the way. Now do you see why I'm worried?

"Bouncing is fun but it is impossible to bounce in total control. Three rules come into play that I can always count on. These rules, while based in science, are my own creation and come from years of treating kids with similar injuries from bouncing substrates:

Whoever goes up, must come down.

The bigger you are, the harder you fall.

If there is something that can cause hidden harm, it will.

"Part of the issue with backyard trampolines is that the actual rules are hardly ever followed. Here's a link to typical rules for backyard trampolines."

After seeing what happened to our little friend, I am tempted to tell my kids they are never allowed to play on trampolines. I can't see how the fun is worth the risk.

As a mom, are you tempted to bend the rules?

6 comments so far | Post a comment now >>

Thank you for this article. I have 3 children under the age of 5. They are all very active, and my mother-in-law has been asking me if I am going to get them a trampoline. I keep telling her that I will never get a trampoline because they are to dangerous. She does not like that answer and I am sure that she will keep hounding me the older they get, but I am going to stick to my convictions. My mother-in-law and I get along very well, but we do disagree on some things. It is good that we get along because she lives down the street from me.

- Jami

Posted 08/07/08 11:06 AM

I would never get one of those big trampolines. When I was a kid we had one of those small personal trampolines that you have to take turns on. We weren’t far off the ground, we didn’t need a safety net, we never crashed into each other and we had a ton of fun. If they need a trampoline get one big enough for one person and use it to teach taking turns. (Note: also fun with a sprinkler set nearby!)

- birdsfly

Posted 08/07/08 11:16 AM

I totally understand all the concern about trampolines as I was hurt when I was a kid but this year we bought a Springfree Trampoline www.springfreetrampoline.com and wow what a difference. By itself it provides me with a huge sense of relief but I have not reduced the rules especially one at a time.

- golfer

Posted 08/07/08 03:35 PM

I definitely agree that the # 1 rule that needs to be followed is the one at a time rule. Unfortunately it is probably the first rule to be broken. When I was in high school, I was on a friend’s trampoline, along with probably 3 or 4 other people, all goofing off and bouncing down to sit and then bouncing onto our feet again. But I didn’t get back to my feet. I ended up being double-bounced on my rear and then ended up on my back. The next thing I remember, I was in my friend’s house on the couch. All I know is I was winded so badly from landing on my back that I basically blacked out. My daughter will NOT be getting a trampoline, and any friends who have one, the parents will be getting a phone call from me. If she wants to play on it, it had better be supervised and one kid at a time.

- Katie

Posted 08/07/08 10:29 PM

Two of my children got into trampolining but as a competitive sport, one made it to the World Age Groups Championships in Quebec last year. They used to beg me for a backyard trampoline but I was steadfast in refusing. They could bounce in the gym under the close supervision of their coach but I wasn’t going to take the risk of them trying out their moves on hard ground with an underpowered trampoline. If your kids really want to trampoline, check out your local club if there is ione. It will be a lot safer and they will develop into real athletes which will teach them discipline while still having fuin.

- Tramp parent

Posted 08/08/08 09:39 AM

The last time I was on a trampoline I fell sprained my neck and seperated my ribs and sturnum.. i couldn’t breath good and I had to miss school.. I will not let my kids on a trampoline.

- Alicia

Posted 08/08/08 11:29 PM

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