Trampoline Injuries: No Fun at All

Accidents Peak in August

“Boing, boing, boing”—it’s a sound most parents love to hear after they lay out the money to install a trampoline for their kids. The exercise benefit and the knowledge that the kids are having fun in the backyard seem to make it a win-win investment. Kids love to jump, bounce and fly through the air with their friends on trampolines, but trampolines are definitely a proven safety risk. Trampoline injuries peak in August, so beware.

Eberl et al identified 265 children over three years who had been referred for trampoline injuries to a pediatric and adolescent surgery department, reviewed their records, and solicited more information by questionnaire.  They found 40% of injuries were severe, and most occurred during the months of April through September with the peak in August. More than half of the injuries occurred on trampolines that had safety nets installed. 

Even more sobering? Some researchers advocate a complete ban on trampolines for children.  Furnival et al reviewed of 727 cases of trampoline injuries in children presenting to a single pediatric emergency department in Utah over a 7 year period.  37% of injuries were in children under the age of six, 66% occurred while on the trampoline, 12% had spinal injuries, 45% had fractures and 14% required one or more operations.  Children who sustained spinal injuries, including several children with broken necks and one who suffered from paralysis, were more likely to have injured themselves while on the trampoline, rather than from falling off of the trampoline; a safety net wouldn't have helped these kids.

Ironically, trampoline use is even more dangerous for kids who weigh less.  Hurson et al found that lighter children were 14 times more likely to suffer an injury than heavier children.  In addition, allowing more than one child on the trampoline at a time was a major risk factor for an injury.  They also agreed that trampolines should never be used at home, schools or outdoor playgrounds because of the frequency, seriousness and rising incidence of trampoline related injuries.

Half of all trampoline related traumas could be avoided by using safety nets and allowing only one child to jump at a time according to Rattya and colleague.   But that still leaves an unacceptably high number of avoidable pediatric accidents.

Oddly enough, three separate neighbors, each only a stone’s throw from my house, have trampolines in their yards.  In fact, the neighbor kid told me just the other day about a “Butt Bounce” incident on one of these. Seems a heavy 9-year old was bouncing along with a pal who is probably 30 pounds lighter. The larger kid jumped and did what kids call a “Butt Bounce” and sent the lighter kid flying. No net, so the kid landed on his arm, bruised it and ended up missing a couple of Little League games.  A minor injury, no ER required—at least this time.

Preserve your peaceful, relaxing summer and make sure you know the risks, and your kids know the rules, before they jump. And if your neighbors let their kids fly without a net, tell your own offspring to stick to soccer, leap frog, and jump rope.

Trampoline injuries is Medpie.com's #3 Hidden Summer Health Hazard for Kids.

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Ben Henshall
Posts: 1

Get over it
Reply #1 on : Tue August 11, 2009, 10:22:33

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You people are ridiculous. We had it the same in England apparently virtually banning children climbing trees. But that's what kids do and it is all part of the growing up process. I agree children should be supervised while on trampolines but to suggest that trampolining should be banned is an absolute nonsense. The nany state strikes again. Really, americans have no independant thought and their tiny minds are only able to grasp what is told to them by network television. If we cotton wool wrap our kids it is also proven to cause mental trauma in later life so what is the conclusion here. Stop all this sensationalist rubbish.

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