Are Trampolines Safe For Kids?
A few months ago, my neighbors bought a trampoline. They have three kids, all near the ages of mine. My boys had gone over to play, and came tearing back into the yard, yelling excitedly because the neighbors were going to have a trampoline, and they were invited to play on it.
Whenever.
They.
Want.
Uh Oh.
Are Trampolines Safe For Kids?
I have several friends that have purchased trampolines for their kids, and without fail, every single one has a horror story to go along with their purchase. They usually go something like this:
I have no idea how it happened. The kids were outside playing and the next thing I know one of them was crying because [insert injury here]…
It doesn’t seem to matter how old the kids are, whether there’s a net in place, or any of the other multiple supposed safety measures they take. Someone always gets hurt.
We told them that, under no uncertain terms, they were not allowed to play on the trampoline. They cried and argued, but we were convinced that trampolines aren’t safe for kids. There’s not even a “safety net” up around the thing, and its not uncommon to see neighborhood kids outside jumping on the thing unsupervised. Needless to say, they were distraught.
To be fair, we decided to look for evidence supporting (or refuting) our decision. What we found was the following:
- The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends against ever letting your kids play on a trampoline. Adult supervision makes no difference.
- When multiple people are jumping on a trampoline, the lightest person on a trampoline is at 5-times greater risk of injury.
- Two thirds of trampoline injuries are to kids between the ages of 6-14.
- In 1999 alone, almost 111,000 emergency room related injuries were the result of playing on trampolines in 2004.
- Netting does not prevent crippling injuries.
Needless to say, we can’t find much to support this idea. So, we told the kids no playing on the trampoline.
We have since endured much wrangling from them over this, but have prevailed in our wisdom. So, one week into this fiasco, when one of the neighbor kids fell off and landed on their heads, we felt justified in our decision.
In the months following, we know of at least four instances where kids have been injured, or nearly injured, by playing on, around, or near that thing. My neighbor tried to convince me that “…they would just have to watch what they’re doing…”
Yeah. Kids are so good about that…
Our boys continue to complain, but we’re not budging on this.
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I support your stance even though I won’t be enforcing a ban myself.
I hate to say it, but I absolutely would NOT allow my children to play on a neighbor’s trampoline and would never own one myself. They fall firmly in the “accident waiting to happen” category.
Hi,
I just wanted to say that trampolines are good for children, getting them outside and giving them an enjoyable form of execerise. The downfall is the low priced models that come without safety nets! These low priced trampoline have very low specifications and are simply not safe to bounce on, these are causing the accidents.
Thanks
Jim
Trampolines are generally safe; it’s how they are used that can be dangerous. There are accidents that will inevitably occur but careful monitoring of kids and their use of trampolines is imperative.