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Safety Tips 

Tips for Preventing Trampoline Injuries

A trampoline is not a toy. The American Academy of Pediatrics offers this advice for parents:

• Never buy a trampoline for use at home.
• Never allow your child to use a trampoline at someone else's home.

Who Is Affected?

As many as 500,000 trampolines intended for backyard use are sold in the U.S. each year. In 1996, the latest year for which data exist, more than 83,000 people were injured badly enough while using trampolines to seek treatment in hospital emergency departments. Almost all of those injured were using home trampolines. More than 75 percent of those injured were under age 15, and 10 percent of the injuries were sustained by children under 5 years old.

Forty percent of trampoline-related injuries are sprains and strains, most frequently affecting the leg or foot. Nearly one-third of injuries are fractures, many of which require surgery. Younger children appear to be at the greatest risk for fractures, while older children more often suffer sprains and strains. Head and neck injuries account for about 10 percent of injuries associated with the trampoline, and about 15 percent of head injuries involve fractures, concussions, and closed-head trauma. Deaths from trampoline use are rare (on average, less than one per year).

Many trampoline-related injuries occur because users land incorrectly while jumping or doing stunts. Others result from persons falling off the trampoline, hitting the springs or frame, or colliding with another jumper. More than half of the injuries occur when two or more persons use the trampoline at the same time.

Because of the injury risks associated with the trampoline, the American Academy of Pediatrics has recommended that trampolines never be used at home, on playgrounds, in physical education classes, or for athletic competition. The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission has stated that children under six years old, because of their immature motor skills, should not use trampolines in any setting.

Safety Resources 

American Academy of Pediatrics

AAP has issued a policy statement about trampoline use at home, school, and recreational centers. (www.aap.org/policy/re9844.html). Call 847-228-5907.

U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission

CPSC offers injury prevention tips in its trampoline safety alert. (www.cpsc.gov/cpscpub/pubs/085.html). Call 1-800-638-2772.

References 

The data and safety tips in this fact sheet were obtained from the following sources:

American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons Seminar (Sullivan J, Grana W, editors). The Pediatric Athlete. Park Ridge, IL: The Academy, 1990:137-138.

American Academy of Pediatrics. Trampolines at home, school, and recreational centers. Pediatrics 1999;103(5):1053-1056.

Smith G. Injuries to children in the United States related to trampolines, 1990-1995: A national epidemic. Pediatrics 1998;101(3):406-412.