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Does your child want a trampoline, but you aren’t sure they are safe? Maybe you have heard conflicting advice about using trampolines at home and don’t know who to believe. Deciding if a trampoline is safe to have in your home can seem impossible, but it doesn’t need to be.
Our guide today answers your burning questions, telling you whether trampolines are safe at home and how to keep your children safe while they bounce.
Are Trampolines Safe For Home Use?
As fun as trampolines at home can be, they are not safe. The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) and the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons discourage home trampolines, especially for children under six. More than 1 million people visited the emergency department for trampoline injuries between 2002 and 2011, according to a 2019 report. This figure is why trampolines are discouraged, as an attempt to reduce injuries and keep children safe.
Despite the dangers and the warnings, many parents purchase a trampoline for their children. This could be from a love of trampolining in school or as a way to encourage them to spend more time outdoors. Parents defend their decision to have a trampoline at home, citing safe practices that help to reduce the chance of injuries and keep their children safe.
Deciding whether to have a trampoline in your garden is a choice only you can make. Before making your decision, you should consider the AAP reports and warnings and all of the safety guidelines available.
How To Reduce The Risk Of Injuries With Trampolines At Home
For those who decide to continue with their purchase and buy a trampoline for their home, we have some tips that can help keep your little one safe. These will help you reduce the risk of injuries while your children are using the trampoline.
Limit The Trampoline To One Person At A Time
Limiting your children to one person at a time on the trampoline can help reduce the chance of common injuries. The more children jump on the trampoline, the more likely they are to crash into one another, fall off it, land awkwardly, or write themselves on springs or frames.
We recommend using a visual timer or system that signals when one child’s turn is up on the trampoline to prevent any arguments.
Ban Flips And Somersaults
Incorrectly performing flips and somersaults can leave your children with spine, neck, and head injuries and can even leave them disabled. In some cases, a bad flip can be fatal. Don’t take the risk; make sure any child using your trampoline knows that flips and somersaults are banned.
Utilize Safety Equipment
Ideally, shock-absorbing pads should cover the trampoline’s springs, frame, and hooks. These should be replaced as soon as there are signs of wear, including fraying or tears.
You should also use a net enclosure and follow the instruction manual to ensure it is correctly installed.
Position It Correctly
You want your trampoline on a level ground, far away from trees and other structures. This ensures the trampoline won’t be unstable and that children won’t hurt themselves on other structures while they bounce.
Supervise At All Times
Adult supervision should be maintained at all times. Having an adult watch can not only ensure that all children using the trampoline follow the rules but also that someone is on hand to intervene should children not listen or there be an accident.
Create A Hangout Space
To prevent children from getting bored and trying to jump on the trampoline before it is their turn, we recommend creating a hangout space where they can safely wait for their turn and have fun. You can include some activities that they can do while they wait, including copying the moves of the person before them on the trampoline or creating new routines to practice.
Families with large gardens might want to use the space and add other play equipment, such as jungle gyms and swing sets, to keep children occupied and burn off extra energy while they wait.
The space should be a safe distance from the trampoline to keep children safe should they fall and to prevent them from leaning or climbing on the netted enclosure.
Final Thoughts
Having a trampoline in your garden is not without risks. They can seriously injure children, especially if they perform dangerous moves without adult supervision. Should you decide to purchase a trampoline, use the tips we have listed to reduce the risk of injuries and keep children safe while they bounce.
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