Whether your child decides to go play on a trampoline at a friend’s house or a trampoline park, the dangers remain. Slipping off a trampoline could result in head injuries, back injuries or broken bones. Sprains and strains often happen due to landing wrong, and even lacerations or friction burns can occur.
It’s important to know the risks before allowing your child to use a trampoline. Here are five common injuries and how they occur.
1. Broken bones
Broken bones happen when the force on the body is so strong that the bone can’t withstand it. Small bones, like those in the fingers and toes, are the most likely to break by landing incorrectly. Other bones, e.g., in the legs or arms, may break if you collide with another jumper or fall off a trampoline.
2. Head injuries
Head injuries are most likely to occur due to running into objects or falling and hitting your head. Some trampoline parks require lightweight helmets to prevent injuries. At home, you can use a trampoline net to prevent falls.
3. Spinal injuries
Spinal injuries are usually a result of collisions or landing incorrectly. Hitting the spine on the edge of a trampoline or landing in an awkward position could result in dislocations, sprains or herniations of the spinal column.
4. Sprains
Sprains are one of the least damaging injuries over time, but they’re painful and can lead to weakness. Sprains occur often in the wrists when children or adults try to catch themselves when falling.
5. Friction burns
Friction burns are one last thing that might happen at a trampoline park. These burns are caused by the skin grating across the fibers of the trampoline. Significant friction burns have a potential to bleed and become infected.
Every kind of trampoline injury can result in costly medical bills and lost wages if you take time off of work to seek treatment. For people with kids, trampolines may seem like a never-ending source of wounds despite efforts to provide a safe outlet for their children’s energy.
The good thing is that trampoline safety techniques do keep kids safer. Having an adult present and rules posted on how many people can be on a trampoline at one time helps prevent injuries. Supervision and discussions about trampoline safety can make bouncing on a trampoline a lot safer.