Trampoline Injuries on the Decline, Doctors Still Urge Caution

Dunnellon, Florida – While trampoline injuries may be down, the decrease in injuries appears to be a result of a drop in trampoline sales and not due to safer trampoline use, according to a new study in the journal Pediatrics and the American Academy of Pediatrics.

In 2009, nearly 98,000 people suffered injuries on trampolines, with 31,000 being serious enough for hospitalization. According to the National Electronic Injury Surveillance System, which collects data from emergency rooms in order to estimate nationwide injury rates, the above information represents an injury rate of nearly 32 injuries per 10,000 people, down from 38 injuries per 10,000 in 2004.

The most common injuries from trampolines were fractures, sprains, strains, bruising and soft-tissue injuries. The most serious injuries, head and neck trauma, accounted for more than 10 percent of all trampoline-related emergency room visits.

The authors of the study urge people to realize that trampolines are not toys. Those at the highest risk for injuries are children, specifically those under the age of 6, who account for more than one-third of those injured on trampolines.

To help keep your loved ones safe and minimize the chance of injury, medical experts suggest taking the following precautions:

• Enforce a one-person, one-trampoline rule. Almost three-fourths of injuries take place when multiple people jump on a trampoline together.
• Use a safety pad on the trampoline’s frame to help cushion falls.
• Always make sure an adult is supervising a child when playing on a trampoline.
• Discourage flips and somersaults in order to avoid head and neck injuries.
• Remove ladders from trampolines so that small children cannot climb onto the trampoline.
• Never allow children under the age of 6 to use a trampoline.
• Repair or throw away the trampoline when parts go missing or become corroded.

Remember, unfortunate accidents can happen no matter how safe you are. If your child has been injured due to a defectively designed trampoline or due to a lack of supervision or any other form of negligence, you may be eligible to receive financial compensation for medical bills, pain and suffering and any other losses related to the accident.

The Citrus County Injury Attorneys at Whittel & Melton can help you and your loved ones whether they suffered a trampoline injury at the home of a relative or friend or even at a theme park or playground. We help accident victims in Dunnellon, Inverness, Crystal River, Beverly Hills, Lecanto, Homosassa, Hernando, Sugarmill Woods, Citrus Springs and Floral City. For a free evaluation of your injury claim, contact us online or call our Inverness office at 1-352-726-0078.