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A trampoline can offer lots of entertainment for kids, but may also seem like an accident waiting to happen! Still, if the necessary precautions are taken, jumping on a trampoline can be safe and enjoyable for everyone involved (including the parents!).
According to Nationwide Mutual Insurance Company, 246,875 medically-treated trampoline injuries take place in the United States each year, and 75% of those injuries occur in children 14 or younger. So, trampoline safety is definitely something to be taken seriously! If you have a trampoline or are thinking of purchasing one, keep these safety tips in mind to prevent an accident.
From being mindful about where the trampoline is placed to ensuring your kids remove any jewelry or sharp objects before bouncing, the smallest of details can make a big difference.
1. Trampoline Placement
In addition to finding a flat surface to place a trampoline, you also have to consider the type of ground underneath the trampoline and what’s surrounding the trampoline on all sides. Soft grass or shock-absorbing sand are among the best surfaces for a trampoline to be placed on. Avoid setting it near concrete or on hard ground that isn’t somewhat cushioned. Last but not least, make sure the trampoline isn’t too close to trees, power lines or garden sheds. If someone jumps or falls off the trampoline, you want to make sure they’re not close to anything they can hit.
2. Trampoline Setup
Take extra precautions: Set up a net or other protective accessories to help kids avoid springs and other metal parts of the trampoline. These can also keep your kids safe while jumping. If your trampoline doesn’t come with a net or pads to place along the trampoline’s edge, you can purchase those separately and add them yourself for added safety and peace of mind.
3. Type Of Trampoline
According to SkyBound, a circular trampoline has a lower bounce factor than a rectangular trampoline. So in order to keep the height your kids can reach at a minimum, you might want to make sure you’re looking for round trampolines only. And the size of the trampoline matters, too. The smaller the bounce area, the less height a bounce will produce.
4. Jumping Rules
Domijump recommends having some rules in place before your kids begin bouncing. For example, make it so that only one person can bounce at a time. Don’t allow somersaults and flips, which can result in head and neck injuries. If you and your kid set some of the boundaries together, it’ll help everyone be safer!
5. Entering And Exiting Rules
You can also enforce rules about getting on and off of the trampoline. For instance, it’s better for kids to carefully climb on and off of the trampoline as opposed to jumping down to the ground. Installing a ladder might help make this rule easy to follow! Just make sure free-standing stepstools and ladders get moved out of the way while the bouncing is going on.
6. Avoid Jewelry And Sharp Objects
Making sure the kids aren’t wearing jewelry or carrying anything sharp with them on the trampoline is another great way to avoid an accident. You might not expect jewelry to cause an accident, but a necklace could easily come up and hit someone’s eye. It’s smart to remove jewelry and dangling accessories or clothing before your kids ever get on the trampoline.
These are just some of the ways you can keep your kids safe while they enjoy some time on the trampoline. Once you’ve taken these precautions — let the bouncing begin!
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