Trampolines, too dangerous?

Greystoner

After spending the afternoon in a&e and having a child at home now with a leg in plaster, we are now discussing about dismantling the trampoline. Seems like safety nets and full supervision/nagging is not enough safety measures. It's all down to the way that they land, small bounces included!

Nurses at a&e confirmed that trampoline accidents are probably number two on the most common accidents (bouncy castles are number one)when the weather is good. I was aware of the dangers, but this accident was just too simple and I just wanted to remind others of the dangers (as if I needed to!)

Now feeling like an irresponsible parent for having one. I know you can't wrap kids up in cotton wool though.

Anyone else out there feel that the stress of having one with all the possible accidents etc, and having to constantly supervise, is it worth it?

Orion

$hit happens to be honest. We've a trampoline - we're fully aware that accidents can happen. If one does we'll deal with it. It won't be the fault of the trampoline - it will just be an accident. They could fall off their bikes and break their arms just as easily - would you get rid of the bike?

The benefits of a trampoline outweigh the occasional accident. While it may be #2 on the A&E nurses radar what percentage of trampolines result in accidents?

Sorry to hear about your kid - it's not easy for you or him/her. But he/she will heal and probably get straight back up on that trampoline afterwards. Don't feel guilty about it. There's no fault. Sometimes $hit just happens.

smelltheglove

After my kids spending hours upon hours on trampolines, being dare devils jumping and somersaulting off things the only broken bones we had was when one felldown 2 stepsand landed badly.

Tbh, doesnt matter how careful you are, an accident is bound to happen at some point in life and it is up to you to try your best to teach them to be careful, my little one shouldnt have been trying to lift one leg up on to the bannister, but she did, I felt irresponsible for a moment or two and realised, sure kids will be kids, we cant protect them from everything, and if we tried to are we just being more careless? I mean if you keep your child away from every stranger how will they ever learn to socialise? If you keep them away from every dog how will they learn to behave around animals safely and if you keep them away from anything with any ounce of danger at all how on earth will they know how to behave when they are in unusual situations?

Fittle

We had a trampoline when he was younger (he's 9 now) and he had great fun on it. The only accident he ever had was when he fell off a neighbours trampoline, head first and ended up in a&e with a possible broken nose ouch! It wasn't broken, but to this day there's still a bit of gristle in the bridge of his nose that causes heavy nosebleeds when he has a cold etc - docs said they'd have another look at it when he's about 10 (accident happened when he was 4).

I did get rid of it when he was about 7, mainly because I was sick looking at it and he'd starting playing out the front anyway - I do think they are dangerous but I agree with others, that accidents will and can happen to energetic kids everywhere. I don't think supervision will prevent accidents on trampolines necessarily either - I was looking at my son, about one foot away, when he put his foot out of the net to step onto the ladder and down he fell....:(

Another neighbour has a trampoline with no net, for about 3yrs now and not one child has had an accident on it..but there have been many scrapes on bikes, flickers, rollerblades and the like over those few years!

kelle

Fittle wrote: »

Another neighbour has a trampoline with no net, for about 3yrs now and not one child has had an accident on it..but there have been many scrapes on bikes, flickers, rollerblades and the like over those few years!

I know a few people who have trampolines without nets, I think that's suicide!

My cousin has one that you can shorten the legs so it's only 6 inches off the ground, at least you can relax when little ones are on it.

thesimpsons

we'e trampoline without net - had it 8 yrs now and never had a single accident from it. We've had our share of broken bones, a chipped tooth and various cuts but these were from playing rugby, hurling, cycling, jumping off a wall and in one case, girl tripped over own foot! friends have a tramp with a net and the kids use the net to launch themselves off it and bash into each other - end result was each child knocked out 2 teeth. accidents are just part of life.

up for anything

Trampolines are fun but do cause lots of accidents including fatal ones. A family I know lost their 11 year old boy because he broke his neck on the trampoline one lovely, sunny afternoon.

smelltheglove

I have seen people dig holes in the ground and place the trampolines in holes so that they are ground level, I think thats a great idea and would do it myself if my new garden wasnt fully paved.

angeldaisy

I agree that they are dangerous, but we just have to do our best to minimise the risks - only one on at a time, no biggies with the smallies and no toys on it. I did catch him playing catch with the dog inside in it once:D, but I would rather he was outside on the trampoline than sat inside playing nintendo.
My friend won't have one because she thinks they are too dangerous, her six year old boy fell the other week on the grass and broke his arm. thats just the way life is.
My fella hasn't done anything too major,just fell down the steps and bruised himself.

LegacyUser

I don't think I'd want one even though Daddy and little one (4) keep nagging me for one. So one day I'll give in. He got his first stitches the other day on his head - ran into a flower!!!! pot!!!!!!

gaeilgegrinds1

We have one. Daddy is a surgeon who spends his days putting little people back together again. Ours was put up under the condition it was put INTO the ground. Problem solved.

thesimpsons

just curious - how deep does the hole need to be to set the tramp into the ground, do you factor in kids getting older and bouncing higher (and therefore landing deeper on the bed) ??

ztoical

up for anything wrote: »

Trampolines are fun but do cause lots of accidents including fatal ones. A family I know lost their 11 year old boy because he broke his neck on the trampoline one lovely, sunny afternoon.

My mum[GP] had to go see to a 10 boy who died after breaking his neck falling out of bed [blanket twisted around his neck while he was goofing around] It's really tragic but as others said accidents can happen and can happen anywhere, you can't wrap kids in cotton wool.

I grew up in my Granddads scrap yard which was just a massive danger area for kids but me and my cousins built forts and climbed to the top of the trees around it and hung out of them - over 10 years and twenty odd cousins no broken bones yet I broke my arm when I was 11 walking up my front drive way [just slip and landed wrong]

Lady Chatterton

I think the benefits of using trampolines far outweigh the dangers, but obviously they need to be properly supervised etc. Unfortunately, children can and do have accidents. (My four year old ended up in A&E last year with shoulder and whiplash type injuries after landing awkwardly on her bed; she had simply been jumping up and down). I have since purchased a trampoline and there have been no issues at all.

Apparently, some Consultant Orthopaedic Surgeons feel that trampolines are not suitable for children under seven. However, having worked with special needs children, I know Occupational Therapists that recommend the use of trampolines to children with ADHD and autism as the trampolines can help with sensory issues.

CJhaughey

When I was a kid we never had a tramp. But all the neighbours did, we used to do mad stuff like jumping off a shed roof onto a trampoline to get more height! Never broke anything.
The trampolines then didn't even have spring covers let alone sides.
You learnt your limits pretty quickly though.
I think a lot of parents try so hard to minimise all dangers that kids don't get a chance to assess a situation themselves and make a value judgement on the risk.
Risk assessment is a part of life and is important.

Greystoner

Thanks for all the replies. I think I was just having a bit of a guilt attack!

Nobody wants to feel responsible for their child getting getting hurt, but at the same time, I think children need to learn about 'risk taking' in a controlled environment so that they don't grow up not wanting to try anything new.

I would love to sink the trampoline down, but our garden is fully paved.

Sitting in a+e and chatting to other parents you realise how easily kids get hurt in the simplest way. Kids are incredible, they just bounce back (pardon the bounce pun!)It's us parents that seem to stress about it. My little one is now enjoying all the being carried etc and being allowed to eat in the lounge with a tray on her lap!

Lets just hope there are no more trips to a+e hey? We have better things to do with our time!!

syklops

Greystoner wrote: »

Thanks for all the replies. I think I was just having a bit of a guilt attack!

Nobody wants to feel responsible for their child getting getting hurt, but at the same time, I think children need to learn about 'risk taking' in a controlled environment so that they don't grow up not wanting to try anything new.

I would love to sink the trampoline down, but our garden is fully paved.

Sitting in a+e and chatting to other parents you realise how easily kids get hurt in the simplest way. Kids are incredible, they just bounce back (pardon the bounce pun!)It's us parents that seem to stress about it. My little one is now enjoying all the being carried etc and being allowed to eat in the lounge with a tray on her lap!

Lets just hope there are no more trips to a+e hey? We have better things to do with our time!!

Could you take an angle grinder to its legs to bring it lower to the ground. That said, I really wouldnt like to fall off a trampoline onto paving stones. You wouldn't rethink its position so it is on grass?

smelltheglove

You could bring it down and surround it with the soft padded slabs like what they use in playgrounds.

CJhaughey

syklops wrote: »

Could you take an angle grinder to its legs to bring it lower to the ground. That said, I really wouldnt like to fall off a trampoline onto paving stones. You wouldn't rethink its position so it is on grass?

Do that and you risk spinal injuries when a person jumps on the trampoline and hits the ground. Bad move.

syklops

CJhaughey wrote: »

Do that and you risk spinal injuries when a person jumps on the trampoline and hits the ground. Bad move.

How is that any different to digging holes for the legs?

January

syklops wrote: »

How is that any different to digging holes for the legs?

You don't dig holes for the legs, you dig a hole for the whole trampoline so there's a big hole for the whole thing to fit in that would be the same height it would be off the ground.

Orion

I disagree with both options of lowering them. They are a certain height for a reason. You land on your heels and hit the ground hard you do risk spinal injury as cjhaughey said.

Kids are great Greystoner - they forget the pain and focus on the positives. Us adults could learn something from them

Lady Chatterton

syklops wrote: »

Could you take an angle grinder to its legs to bring it lower to the ground. That said, I really wouldnt like to fall off a trampoline onto paving stones. You wouldn't rethink its position so it is on grass?

Not recommended. If you interfere with the trampoline you may not be covered by insurance in the event of an accident.

(i.e. if a neighbour's child was injured on your trampoline and they sued you, your insurance probably wouldn't pay out if you had tampered with the trampoline, and you could be held personally liable).

planetX

Was about to answer pro-trampoline, but then read that you have it on paving. That's not a good idea.
I never put up our net as have only one child who doesn't go too crazy. But I'm always outside when he's on it (usually have to have a go too).

Greystoner

planetX wrote: »

Was about to answer pro-trampoline, but then read that you have it on paving. That's not a good idea.
I never put up our net as have only one child who doesn't go too crazy. But I'm always outside when he's on it (usually have to have a go too).

Not everybody has the luxury of grass. I don't see how having it on paving is any more dangerous than on grass! (unless you don't have a net and they come flying off!!)

We have a net.

My kids do not go atall crazy on it.

Whenever the kids are on it, I stand there 100percent of the time (as they need reminding of the safety).

Accidents happen. This child was not even jumping at the time, just fell over and landed awkwardly (the other child was doing very small jumps). So I have learnt that even if you stand there and have the safety net etc, these things can still happen.

Do not be complacent, this could very easily happen to your child too. I hope that it doesn't, but just remember it can happen just like that.

planetX

Greystoner wrote: »

Not everybody has the luxury of grass. I don't see how having it on paving is any more dangerous than on grass! (unless you don't have a net and they come flying off!!)

We have a net.

My kids do not go atall crazy on it.

Whenever the kids are on it, I stand there 100percent of the time (as they need reminding of the safety).

Accidents happen. This child was not even jumping at the time, just fell over and landed awkwardly (the other child was doing very small jumps). So I have learnt that even if you stand there and have the safety net etc, these things can still happen.

Do not be complacent, this could very easily happen to your child too. I hope that it doesn't, but just remember it can happen just like that.

Ok, I thought you had no net cos you said you'd love to sink it down but can't due to paving.
I've just found in my childs case I feel he's safer without the net as he jumps in the middle then. When we had a net he was all over the place, using it to catch him.
He just got a skateboard - they cause a lot of accidents too, so do bikes. We can't guard against every possibility.

Joey the lips

My child is special needs and i was told by his ot to give him a regular work out on the trampoline....

Thats what i have done for 3 years. He is just 7 so fingers crossed.

His 2 year old brother plays on it with him


I have a 10 ft one. Its bigger. Has more space and is rated at 100 kilos so i figure it would be better but i am no scientist.

shrapnel222

we don't have a trampoline, but went to a friends house and my 3 year old went on the trampoline, and ended up smashing his mouth on the bar and lost his front tooth (root and all). tbh it was just an accident and he was absolutely fine with it within 3 hours of the accident.
i think we just have to accept that accidents can and will happen anywhere, and personnally, i finally get to live what i put my parents through (and don't particularly enjoy being on the grown up side of things) as by the age of 4 i already had 20 stitches in my forehead from 4 separate accidents, and that was just the beginning, as it got a hell of a lot worse as i grew older

Billy C

I am a landscaper and have sunk quite a few trampolines into the ground - it's a fairly big job to do well and you don't want to interfere with the trampoline in any way - just sink the ground level under it and marry it into the lawn. There is a new trampoline from New Zealand on the market called a Springfree Trampoline which markets itself as 'The World's Safest Trampoline' as it has no bars, cage or even springs anywhere near the mat as well as an integral net on flexible fibreglass rods.

CrazyRabbit

I've seen trampolines that have no metal parts/hard surfaces anywhere inside the net. It greatly reduces the already small risk since the entire area that can possible come in contact with the 'bouncer' is soft.

Here's one being reviewed:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mRzh0ojAxvI

cbyrd

We have a trampoline for years thank god no accidents but my niece (4) was in my mam's over the weekend and fell off a small kiddies slide.. fractured her elbow and is in plaster for 3 weeks. . accidents happen and as kids bones are much softer than adult ones it's more likely that if they fall awkwardly they'll break something. . in most of the bigger play center's they have all the trampolines buried. . Fort Lucan springs to mind, i think it's a brilliant idea and would do it if i owned the garden