Trampolines are very popular in NZ, but a disturbing number of children are being injured while playing on them. Although potentially dangerous, trampolines are treated as play equipment by many people. The following are key facts regarding injuries from trampoline use in NZ. In the Ten years 1979 - 1988, 2800 people were admitted to hospital and two died from trampoline injuries. It is estimated that about 2800 people are seen each year in emergency departments because of injuries from trampoline use. There has been a steady increase in the number of people being treated in hospital for trampoline injuries.

For those admitted to Hospital:

• 80% had fallen off and hit either the ground or some other object.
• 71% were using home trampolines
• 96% were under 20 years
• 39% were in the 5 - 9 year age group and 37% were 10 - 14 years old
• Fractures (68%) were the most common injury, and arms were the part of the body most often injured.
  
  

For those who went to emergency departments:

• 40% were 10- 14 years old and 32% were 5 - 9 year olds
• Sprains and strains (44%) and fractures (24%) were the most common injuries The leg was the part of the body most commonly injured(50%), followed by the head and neck (24%)
  
  

Common Sense Rules for Safer Use

• Check that the trampoline complies with the NZ Standard (NZS 5855:1993) and that is installed correctly. Get instructions from the supplier of your trampoline.
• Make sure that the trampoline bed is level.
• Have a trampoline that has a bed big enough so that the user will not fall off if he/she loses their balance.
• Make surre the trampoline has nothing stacked under it and that the space surrounding it (at least 2 meters on all 4 sides) is free from hazards such as walls, furniture etc.
• Have an impact absorbing ground surface such as used in playgrounds (e.g. bark chips) around the trampoline for a distance of at least 2 metres on all 4 sides.
• Have impact absorbing padding attached firmly to the frame to cover all of the top of the frame and the springs.
• Consider having the trampoline in a pit so that the bed of the trampoline is level with the ground.
  
  

Using the trampoline:

• ALWAYS supervise people on the trampoline. Tell the jumper when they are moving away from the center of the bed.
• Have only ONE person on the trampoline at a time. It saves people colliding or being bounced off.
• Stay off the trampoline if it is wet.
• Get on and off with care. When getting off, stop in the middle, step to the side, hold the frame and lower yourself to the ground. DO NOT bounce off onto the ground.
• Do not try somersaults unless you are with a qualified instructor. Most serious spinal injuries are associated with these."
  
  

Sarah Williams (nee McPherson)
sarahj.williams@stonebow.otago.ac.nz
Organising Tutor
Phone: 03-479-7339
Computer Science Department
Fax: 03-479-8529
University of Otago
Dunedin, New Zealand HTML version of an e-mail from Sarah Williams on august 19, 1996
to the Trampoline Mailing List, Martin Kraft.