Consumer
Product Safety Commission
Trampoline
Safety Alert
CPSC
Document #085
The
U. S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) wants
you and your family to be safe when using trampolines. The CPSC estimates that in 1998 there were 95,000 hospital
emergency room-treated injuries associated with trampolines.
About 75 percent of the victims are under 15 years of
age, and 10 percent are under 5 years of age. Since
1990, CPSC has received reports of 6 deaths involving
trampolines [less
than 1 death per year, compared with approximately 20
deaths per year involving play equipment/swing sets]. The
hazards that result in injuries and deaths are:[The
JumpCourt Safety Enclosure and Game activities were
designed to dramatically reduce the risks associated
with the following hazards:]
| *
Falling or jumping off the trampoline. |
[Nearly
80% of all hospitalizations/injuries needing surgery/overnight
observation, 35-50% of all emergency room visits÷treated
and released, and 5 of 6 deaths since 1990 occurred
as a result of fall-off accidents. * Consumer
Alert: JumpSport labels and sells the JumpCourt as a safety enclosure, engineered to practically
eliminate the risk of fall-offs; JumpKing labels their Fun-Ring enclosure as a "training
aid" and not as a "safety" enclosure. The JumpCourt withstands over 100 times more
impacts than the Fun-Ring at rated weights.] |
| *
Falling on the trampoline springs or frame. |
[The
JumpCourt netting attaches to the trampoline mat,
making injury-causing frame collisions highly unlikely.
Because the protective padding covering the springs
and frame is notorious for coming loose and/or
blowing off, the JumpCourt is designed to hold
the padding firmly in place.] |
| *
Colliding with another person on the trampoline. |
[JumpSport’s
research shows that many families do not follow
the "one-jumper-at-a-time" rule. The JumpCourt
helps to reduce multiple-jumper collisions in
several ways: First, the JumpCourt significantly
increases the useable play area. Jumpers naturally
migrate toward the center of the trampoline to
avoid falling off. With a safety enclosure, jumpers
feel free to use the entire mat area. This practically
doubles the safe useable space, potentially halving
collisions. Second, enclosures more than
triple a jumper’s collision-avoidance/escape zone.
Now users can jump off the mat and out of harms
way without falling. Third, because playtime
on many backyard trampolines is disorganized and
chaotic, unnecessary injuries occur. JumpSport
conceived of the JumpCourt as a play center and
created the GamePak with over 20 challenging one-jumper
games. The games are designed to be safe, structured,
and self-policing, relying on the fact that kids
are fanatic about rules when competing with each
other. Also, because everyone enjoys interactive
or multiple-player games, especially kids, many
of these games include players on the outside.] |
| *
Landing improperly while jumping or doing
stunts on the trampoline. |
[Research
shows that as kids become comfortable and adept
on trampolines, they attempt more high-risk maneuvers
and play more aggressively. Three of JumpSport’s accessories, the JumpCourt GamePak, Basketball
Goal, and BigTop Tent, encourage kids to shift
their play patterns away from riskier activities
and toward safer, more challenging activities
that keep them safely landing on their feet. Finally, JumpSport has developed its new JumpCourt Trampoline
with kids in mind. By focusing on spring design,
mat size, and frame construction our Soft-Bounce™
technology was optimized for children, and
yet meets the 200lb+ ASTM requirement. This design
generates one third less force upon initial impact,
which should correspondingly reduce mat-impact
injuries.] |
Almost
all of the trampolines associated with injuries were
at private homes, usually in backyards. Most of the
injuries occurred on full-size trampolines.Here
are the steps you can take to help prevent serious trampoline
injuries, especially sprains, fractures, scrapes, bruises,
and cuts.
- Allow
only one person on the trampoline at a time.
- Do
not attempt or allow somersaults.
- Do
not allow trampoline to be used without shock-absorbing
pads that completely cover the springs, hooks, and
the frame. [The JumpCourt
Safety Enclosure holds the pad in place; Trampoline
pads are notorious for breaking loose and not staying
in place.]
- Place
the trampoline away from structures and other play
areas. Use shock-absorbent material on the ground
around the perimeter. [Install
a JumpCourt Safety Enclosure. It’s a less expensive,
more effective solution„plus its Fun!]
- Do
not use a ladder with the trampoline because it provides
unsupervised access by small children. No child under
6 years of age should use a regular-size trampoline.
Secure the trampoline to prevent unauthorized and
unattended use. [The JumpCourt entrance can be secured with a cable
lock.]
- Always
supervise children who use a trampoline.
|