Many families enjoy spending a summer afternoon in the back yard, jumping on the trampoline, playing games and sharing a meal. Yet, every year, thousands of children become injured while jumping on the trampoline. In fact, trampoline injuries account for nearly half of the knee injuries reported among school-aged children.
The injuries include neck injuries, spine injuries, head injuries, broken bones, ankle sprains, broken noses, wrist sprains and more.
Here are some safety tips to help you and your loved ones avoid injury on one of America’s most enjoyed outdoor apparatuses.
Only one person at a time should ever jump on the trampoline. Too many jumpers can cause collisions. It is also difficult to assess the landing surface when too many jumpers are causing the trampoline to move at once.
The trampoline should be placed on a flat, firm surface. Never place your trampoline on a hill. While the surface should be firm, it is important that the surface is not cement or asphalt. In the event that someone should fall off of the trampoline, the grass is a much softer surface to land on than cement.
Make sure all springs and hard metal frames are well padded. Many jumpers lose their balance and fall into these metal objects. Therefore, it is important that a layer of padding around the metal protects the jumper.
Never jump onto the trampoline from a height greater than the trampoline. The weight of your body falling into the spring-loaded trampoline surface will cause you to be projected out of your control. Always start your jump from the same level at the trampoline.
Avoid performing maneuvers that restrict your control. Unless you are under the supervision of a trained gymnastics coach, it is recommend that you do not perform flips or summersaults.
Always land with knees slightly bent. Landing with your legs straight can cause your knee to become hyper-extended, leading to a torn ACL, sprained knee or other serious injury.
Considering investing in protective netting. You can purchase a net that will fit snuggly around the diameter of your trampoline. This net will ensure that all jumpers stay within the bounds of the trampoline.
Always jump in the middle of the trampoline. Stay away from the sides.
Check the surface of the trampoline regularly to ensure that it has not developed any snags or tears. Also, never jump if there are hard objects, such as rocks or acorns on the trampoline. It is important to your safety and to the integrity of the trampoline surface that you only jump when the surface is clean.
Only jump on the trampoline if the area is well-lit. If you cannot see the surface of the trampoline, it is possible that you will inadvertently jump outside if its boundaries and injure yourself.
Your trampoline should be in an area that is free from obstructions, such as tree limbs and overhangs. Obstructions can cause you to hit your head or other body part during the jumping activity.
If you follow these safety tips and use general caution while jumping on your trampoline, you can avoid serious injury.