Trampoline: Between Fun and Injuries
It is always fun to see kids being active, but some kids really bring activity to another level. In particular, many kids love jumping, so it is easy to understand the rising popularity of trampolines. Parents can buy a trampoline for the house and let the kids jump as they like. Seeing the potential business, trampoline parks are growing popularity in lots of places worldwide. People enjoy jumping and bouncing while doing basketball, gymnastics moves, and even playing dodgeball.
As trampolines become more popular, the number of injuries is also soaring. According to the Journal of Pediatrics, the number of injuries while playing in a trampoline park rose from less than 600 people in 2010 to 6,932 in 2014 and the number continues to grow. The number of injuries is higher than other popular sports such as volleyball, football, basketball, and hockey; trampoline jumping is considered more dangerous than many other sports. Seeing it as both a fun and dangerous activity, what should parents know about trampoline regulations? Here is the explanation.
It’s actually an extreme sport
Knowing jumpers can wind up sent to the emergency room with injuries such as broken bones and other injuries, it is important to see that the activity is more than just casual fun. Even though it seems like a basic activity that any kid can do, there can even be the risk of death while jumping on a trampoline. Therefore some parks consider to the activity to be dangerous, and parents are required to sign liability waivers in some trampoline parks.
According to research, the trampoline is as dangerous as downhill skiing, full contact football, and snowboarding. There is also 200 to 300 times more risk of injuries at a trampoline park compared to a roller coaster. The biggest danger with trampolines is collisions when more than one person is jumping at a time. Small children can be vulnerable to injuries when jumping close to adults or bigger kids who may possibly lose control of where they are landing. Additionally, some trampoline parks may include other activities in addition to trampolines such as wall climbing, basketball, and much more. A person can climb on the wall without safety equipment and then jump right on the trampoline. In some cases, some parks do not limit the numbers of a people jumping and allow mixed ages to jump together.
The rise of popularity of trampoline parks
Over the past few years, trampoline parks have become the hot place for kids to hold a birthday party, and the parks have become the fastest growing segment in the amusement park industry. Th International Association of Trampoline Parks reveals that there are over 550 trampoline parks globally and the number is growing fast. Yet even with all their recent popularity, trampoline parks are different from other amusement parks in that they still have relatively little regulation.
The regulation of trampoline parks
Arizona was the first state to pass the trampoline parks regulation. Trampoline park regulation is important to keep jumpers safe while they are having fun. Following Arizona, Utah and Illinois also set the standard high for trampoline park safety. In Illinois, the IL HB3897 covers the requirement for installation and registration of trampoline parks, specific duties of operators and owners, finance act for trampoline parks safety fund. Because there are still no federal regulations related trampoline parks, it is important to continue to look for states to keep an eye on the growing sport in order to avoid more injuries.
Keeping children safe in trampoline parks
Even though there are still only limited regulations, children remain eager to play in the parks. Also, even if the park follows all safety regulations, it does not mean that jumping on a trampoline is risk-free. Therefore, it is important to educate the kids to keep them safe while jumping in a trampoline park.
- Do not get in a rush – when jumping in a trampoline park, it is important to wait for your turn. As mentioned above, injuries in trampoline parks are mostly due to collisions. It is important to only have one kid jumping on a trampoline at one time.
- Avoid flips and somersaults – kids love exploring new tricks in trampoline parks. But certain moves, such as somersaults and flips, should only be done under expert supervision to avoid injuries such as spinal or cord injuries.
- Read carefully – before jumping in trampoline, parents should read the safety waivers and educate their kids about the rules. Some parks may have different rules and parents should take the time to understand the risks.
- Set age – children under 6 years old should never use a trampoline. They are just too small and light to jump around the bigger kids.
- Educate the kids – before letting kids jump on a trampoline, it is important to tell them the risks of injuries if they don’t follow the rules. They could end up injuring not just themselves but other people too, so make sure children understand what they should and shouldn’t do.
Recommendations for home trampolines
As popular as the trampoline parks continue to be, some parents also decide to buy a trampoline for the home. It is actually not recommended for parents to buy a trampoline for home use. But if parents do insist on buying one, make sure to follow safety standards around choosing the best spot for the trampoline, and never let the kids jump without adult supervision. The standard rules for home trampoline use are similar to trampoline park rules, such as never let the kids do stunts or gymnastics, only one person should jump at one time, never allow jumping on a wet trampoline, and so on. Following safety guidelines for jumping at home or in a park is crucial to minimize the risk of injuries.
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