Q. Our neighbor has a trampoline and my kids are constantly asking to go over and jump with the other kids in the neighborhood. I know they really have fun, but I’m concerned about injuries. What can I do?
A. Trampolines are a lot of fun — and can actually provide a lot of aerobic activity for kids. The challenge is the increased risks of injury on trampolines. Injuries can generally be prevented if parents and children alike take care to implement the following precautions.
Only one child should jump at a time, according to the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission. Having more than one child on the trampoline at once creates the greatest risk for injury, especially if the two are significantly different in size.
Having enough spotters around the edge of the trampoline is also important to prevent a child from accidentally going over the edge or landing in the supporting springs around the outer ring. Instill a “no special tricks” rule. While flips are fun and challenging, they’re also associated with significant head and neck injuries as well one of the major reasons for falls.
First-time users of trampolines should have a lot of help — either from a parent or an older child who can be a teacher and demonstrate how to best use the trampoline. You may even want to have your kids check out trampoline safety online before they first jump. Learning the basics of safety is important for hours of fun ahead. Helping them to learn to stay away from injury- producing tricks will be in their best interest as well as yours.
Adult supervision can be a good strategy, and if your neighbor provides the supervision, that’s helpful. Offering to supervise at your neighbor’s home for a period of time — if it’s appropriate for your relationship — will help them and your kids.
Finally, actually purchasing a trampoline for your own backyard may seem like a good idea today, but remember that it may have a number of unanticipated consequences if one of the neighbor’s kids gets injured on your property.
This column is intended to provide general information only and not medical advice. Contact your health care provider with questions about your child. Dr. Peter Dehnel is a board-certified pediatrician and medical director with Blue Cross Blue Shield of Minnesota.
