On an earlier thread http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=931585&page=1 after I posted some statistics on trampoline-related injuries, I apparently incurred the unbridled wrath of trampoline fans. Let's see, I was accused of poor taste, being rude, catty, condescending, and my personal favorite, having poop in my Cheerios and PMS'ing (Sorry, hemispheredancer, but I don't eat Cheerios and my period ended last week. 
)
Some people get so defensive about STATISTICS . . .
Anyway, I make NO apologies. In fact, anytime I see a thread about trampolines (or, as I like to call them, ER-income-generators), I WILL continue to post my numbers on trampoline injuries and recommendation from the American Academy of Pediatrics regarding the ban of all home trampolines.
Because I made a promise to Ashley's parents.
It was on an early winter evening, now almost 20 years ago, although I remember it as if it were yesterday. I was the senior resident on duty in the Pediatric Intensive Care unit. The ER calls and says that very critcal case was being stabilized and sent up. 5 year old girl, traumatic brain injury. Neurosurgery involved.
And that's how I met Ashley (not her real name). When she got to the ICU, she was already intubated and comatose. Earlier that afternoon, she was outside, playing on her family's trampoline, before the sun went down. She lost her footing, and fell backward off the trampoline, hitting her head on a stone border around a flower bed. Her skull shattered like an eggshell, and her brain was bleeding and swelling uncontrollably. Despite maximal hyperventilation, mannitol, ventricular drains, multiple rounds of epinephine and bicarbonate, we could not keep her alive. Let me assure you folks, this is NOTHING like what you see on TV, on ER. It is horrible, it is the worst thing to be doing everything and anything you can, and see a life just slipping away . . .
I had to tell her shell-shocked parents that their beautiful daughter, who, just 2 hours earlier was energetic and full of life, was dead.
It was an experience I NEVER want to go through again.
After her parents had spent some time by her bedside, the nurse told me that Ashley's dad wanted to say something to me. I went over to them, and he said, "Doctor? Could you do us a favor? Could you please tell everyone how dangerous trampolines can be? Maybe that will save another family from going through what happened to us . . ."
Of course, I said yes.
So I don't really care about all the name-calling and insults that have been slung at me recently. Because I made a promise to Ashley, and to her parents.
And I WILL keep that promise.
)Some people get so defensive about STATISTICS . . .
Anyway, I make NO apologies. In fact, anytime I see a thread about trampolines (or, as I like to call them, ER-income-generators), I WILL continue to post my numbers on trampoline injuries and recommendation from the American Academy of Pediatrics regarding the ban of all home trampolines.
Because I made a promise to Ashley's parents.
It was on an early winter evening, now almost 20 years ago, although I remember it as if it were yesterday. I was the senior resident on duty in the Pediatric Intensive Care unit. The ER calls and says that very critcal case was being stabilized and sent up. 5 year old girl, traumatic brain injury. Neurosurgery involved.
And that's how I met Ashley (not her real name). When she got to the ICU, she was already intubated and comatose. Earlier that afternoon, she was outside, playing on her family's trampoline, before the sun went down. She lost her footing, and fell backward off the trampoline, hitting her head on a stone border around a flower bed. Her skull shattered like an eggshell, and her brain was bleeding and swelling uncontrollably. Despite maximal hyperventilation, mannitol, ventricular drains, multiple rounds of epinephine and bicarbonate, we could not keep her alive. Let me assure you folks, this is NOTHING like what you see on TV, on ER. It is horrible, it is the worst thing to be doing everything and anything you can, and see a life just slipping away . . .
I had to tell her shell-shocked parents that their beautiful daughter, who, just 2 hours earlier was energetic and full of life, was dead.
It was an experience I NEVER want to go through again.
After her parents had spent some time by her bedside, the nurse told me that Ashley's dad wanted to say something to me. I went over to them, and he said, "Doctor? Could you do us a favor? Could you please tell everyone how dangerous trampolines can be? Maybe that will save another family from going through what happened to us . . ."
Of course, I said yes.
So I don't really care about all the name-calling and insults that have been slung at me recently. Because I made a promise to Ashley, and to her parents.
And I WILL keep that promise.
People don't like to look at statistics, or admit their logic is off-kilter. 
Unfortunately it is the parents that most need to hear this, that won't bother to listen.
DH and I were in the next room! I didn't read the other thread, but I just felt like I needed to express that there are so many things that are potentially a danger, especially to kids, but you can't do away w/ and ban all potential dangers.
