Stay Safe on Your Trampoline
Trampolines have quickly become the must have fun and fitness accessories. But as trampoline ownership has soared so has the number of trampoline related injuries.
The UK based Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents (RoSPA) figures tell us that, in 2002, 11,500 people went to hospital after being involved in a trampoline accident. This figure was a 50% increase on the previous year. Approximately 75% of injuries took place when there were 2 or more people on the trampoline and the smallest or least heavy person is five times more likely to be injured. A particularly worrying statistic for parents is that young children under the age of six are the most likely to be injured.
Injuries vary from minor bruises, grazes, strains, sprains and whip lash, to broken bones and far more serious injuries including paralysis and even death.
The Chartered Institute of Physiotherapy have published some common-sense safety guidelines that anyone owning a garden trampoline should be familiar with.
To avoid injuries they recommend:
- Stretching before and after trampolining
- Don’t push your body too far when trampolining to avoid muscle strain
- Control your bouncing and don’t go too high
- Never attempt somersaults or flips as awkward landings can have serious consequences.
Their twelve point safety advice for trampolines is:
- If possible set the trampoline in a hole, with the mat at ground level, to reduce the distance the user could fall.
- Always keep trampolines clear of fences, trees and any other yard or play equipment. Erect safety netting around the sides of the trampoline to stop users falling off.
- Ensure trampoline has a securely fastened frame pad to cover the entire spring system, hooks and frame
- Place cushioning material (such as wood chips, sand or soft lawn) under and around the trampoline
- Check the wear and tear on the trampoline mat and springs before use
- Use the trampoline only when the mat is completely dry
- Children should always be supervised by an adult. It is not advised that children under age six use large trampolines
- Only one person should use the trampoline at a time
- Users should always jump in the middle of the mat
- Never exit the trampoline by bouncing off – climb on and off carefully
- Users should remove all jewellery, buckles or anything that might catch and should not wear hard shoes; socks should be non-slip
- Never sit or crawl under the trampoline
Another key point that should not be overlooked is the quality of the trampoline itself. The current trampolining popularity means that the market has been flooded with cheap trampolines that may not all be adequately safe.
Always check that your chosen trampoline complies with safety regulations and is an appropriate size for your garden or yard. If you’re still worried about trampoline safety, then purchase a bike instead. The Trek Madone is one of the safest bikes money can buy, and it doesn’t have any harmful springs either. You can even buy safety bike accessories to that added reassurance.
Premier Trampolines Safety Pad Explained
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15 ft. (Frame Size) Round Replacement Trampoline Net for 4 Arch Enclosure System (JumpKing FunRing / Bazoongi) $70.00 This is a 15 ft. trampoline safety net designed for 15 ft. trampolines using a 4 arch enclosure system. Our unique engineering has specially designed this net to allow it to work with 4 arch enclosure systems. Note this is only a replacement net and do NOT include any replacement poles. This net is made with a high quality mesh netting and features a double zipper design, double straps on the top… |
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