Here is the AAP statement regarding home trampolines:
News Release
PEDIATRICIANS WARN AGAINST DANGERS OF HOME TRAMPOLINES
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For Release: May 3, 1999, 5 p.m. (ET)
Below is a news release on a revised policy published in the May issue of Pediatrics, the peer-reviewed, scientific journal of the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP).
CHICAGO - A revised policy from the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) recommends that trampolines should not be used at home - either indoors or outdoors. The policy goes on to recommend that trampolines should not be part of routine physical education classes in schools, and that the trampoline has no place in outdoor playgrounds and should never be regarded as play equipment.
Despite all currently available measures to prevent injury, the potential for serious injury while using a trampoline remains. The need for supervision and trained personnel at all times makes home use extremely unwise, states the revised policy.
Based on data collected by the Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) National Electronic Injury Surveillance System (NEISS), the AAP found that trampoline related injuries are on the rise.
Trampoline-related injuries increased 140 percent from 1990 to 1996.
An estimated 83,400 trampoline-related injuries requiring an emergency department visit occurred in 1996 in the United States.
30 percent of trampoline-related injuries treated in an emergency department were fractures, often resulting in hospitalization and surgery.
Catastrophic cervical spine injuries are rare, however head and neck injuries constitute a notable number of the more serious injuries requiring hospitalization.
Since 1990, the CPSC has received reports of six deaths involving trampolines. Victims ranged in age from 3 years through 21 years. Most deaths occurred when victims fell from the trampolines, and most involved the spinal cord.
The AAP concluded that the largest proportion of trampoline-related injuries occurred on home trampolines and that most trampoline-related injuries occurred either while children played on trampolines or as they fell off. They also found that most injuries happen when there are simultaneous multiple users.
If there is an environment in which a trampoline will be used, the AAP offers guidelines on design and behavioral use in order to lessen the chance of injury.
The American Academy of Pediatrics is an organization of 55,000 primary care pediatricians, pediatric medical subspecialists and pediatric surgical specialists dedicated to the health, safety and well-being of infants, children, adolescents and young adults.
crazyme, with those sobering statistics, I would strongly advise AGAINST getting one of these accidents-waiting-to-happen. There are much safer items for you to spend your money on. JMHO, of course.
