PARENTS are being warned about the dangers of children’s trampolines with the UK’s Kingston Hospital recording a surge in the number of youngsters treated for accidents caused by them.

In just five months, doctors at the hospital saw more than 130 trampoline-related injuries including wounds and fractures and several even needed surgery.

The recent research, carried out by consultant and clinical head for emergency medicine Dr Harris and senior staff nurse Marcus Wootton, revealed a fifth of the injuries were in children under five who had been playing on trampolines of more than 10 feet in diameter.

On average, more than two other people were on the trampoline with them, which Dr Harris said was even more dangerous for the lightest child, who would be five to 14 times more likely to be injured. In 68 per cent of cases the injured child did not even fall off the trampoline, the injury caused on the product itself or by collision.

This is due to ‘double bouncing’ – where people jumping at the same time causes the transfer of kinetic energy, catapulting the lightest person in to the air.
But it seems the injuries weren’t all the result of scientific phenomena – a third of accidents were the result of youngsters deliberately jumping from the trampoline or accidentally falling off it.

The doctors have called on retailers to brief parents on safety guidelines when selling the toys, which have grown in popularity over the past few years and are particularly popular in Kingston and Richmond, where homes tend to have bigger gardens.

There are many trampoline designs on the market and one would think safety would be the most important factor when purchasing a trampoline for the kids?

For Springfree™ Trampoline this report is not new or surprising for that matter.  Statistics have always demonstrated an unacceptable and scary number of childhood injuries, but what is surprising is that parents continue to purchase unsafe trampolines.

Springfree™ Trampoline has been on a mission since 2003 to reduce injury occurrence – and we’ll keep working hard to make backyards safer.  We reckon, parents wouldn’t let their kids ride on a bike without a helmet or ride in a car without a seatbelt – so why let them jump on an unsafe trampoline?

For more information on Trampoline Safety and Statistics;

http://www.springfreetrampoline.com.au/safetystatistics

Full Article:

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/health/8273795.stm

http://www.hounslowchronicle.co.uk/west-london-news/local-hounslow-news/2009/09/29/surge-in-child-trampoline-injuries-109642-24808968/