Garden Trampoline Safety

Home trampolines are the most sought after garden item by UK children this summer (2005). Along with the increased sales of trampolines there is also an increase in the number of accidents and injuries mostly among young children. The main purpose of this article is to provide basic safety advice to parents who buy trampolines and the children who use them.

Trampolining is exciting, fun and energetic. These three factors mean that it is also good exercise. Even better if it can be enjoyed outdoors on a lovely summer day. That's the upside. The downside is that trampolines are inherently dangerous if simple safety rules are not followed:

1. The safest option is to not own one. This is the advice I personally follow having four children who have all enjoyed the sport as well as being a bouncer myself.
2. Buy the most robust, best quality equipment that funds and space will provide.
3. Set up on a flat grassy area away from hazards, e.g. trees, shed, washing lines etc.
4. Only allow children to bounce under supervision.
5. Information from the USA shows that 75% of all accidents occur when there is more than one person on the trampoline so ONLY ONE PERSON AT A TIME!
6. Get training from a qualified coach. As well as new skills you will learn more about trampoline safety.
7. Never attempt to perform moves that are beyond your level of skill. Needless to say many of the worst injuries to neck, head and spine occur when difficult moves are attempted by inadequately trained bouncers.

Before buying a trampoline you should consider these points:

1. Consider your liability if a visitor is injured on your trampoline e.g. your child's friend.
2. Trampolines take up a lot of space in the garden and they don't pack down well for storage.
3. If this is going to be your child's latest fad then it is a big investment for tomorrows discarded toy. Remember "Furbies".
4. It's going to be a pain cutting the grass from now on.

You may be thinking I'm trying to put you off but as I have said above trampolines are great fun and they don't need my support to sell them. I would just like to alert you to the potential hazards.

I'm not alone in stating my concerns. British Gymnastics have recently published a statement garden trampoline safety, http://www.british-gymnastics.org/cms/publish/article_931.shtml dated 25 June 2005. The Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents has also published information recently (see below).

More Information (Acrobat pdf files):

1. British Gymnastics article on Garden Trampoline Safety
2. RoSPA Trampoline Safety Information - May 2005
3. RoSPA Information Sheet Number 34 - Trampolines - April 2004

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