Are trampolines really that dangerous for children? What about the facilities that have them specifically for entertainment? Depending on the situation, you may find that if your child is hurt, you have a legal claim for negligence thanks to property liability laws. For instance, if the facility hasn’t kept up the trampolines and one breaks, that could be grounds for a lawsuit.
According to an Aug. 16 report, trampoline parks may actually be dangerous for kids, causing anything from soft-tissue damage to broken bones. The cause of most serious injuries were failed landings, likely because the child had tried to attempt a summersault or other kind of jump. Sometimes, kids bounce right off trampolines, though, and they can land hard on the padded mats below.
That study, which was in Australia, is similar to one in the United States released this month. It said that there has been a large number of injuries this month due to the growing interest in trampoline parks. Between 2011 and 2014, the number of trampoline parks in the United States grew from 40 to 280. If you extrapolate that data to 2016, it’s likely there are around 450 parks in total.
Of course, there are serious risks at these parks. Landing wrong can mean spinal cord damage, paralysis, brain damage, concussions or broken bones. Scrapes, friction burns and sprains are also common. How should these issues be avoided? Following the park’s rules, for one thing. Kids need to have adult supervision, and they should have adequate protection and clothing covering them.
Parents can check out the facility first, too. Springs should be covered on trampolines, and safety netting or padded mats should be placed around the trampolines to prevent injuries from falls.
Source: Fox News Health, “More evidence trampoline parks are dangerous places for kids,” Aug. 16, 2016