Be mindful of backyard trampoline safety, parents urged
Check your backyard trampoline for loose springs and ban daredevil flips and somersaults, the Canada Safety Council says in an advisory.
'Parents need to make sure the equipment is safe and establish a few basic rules.' —Jack Smith, Canada Safety Council
The group has selected trampoline safety as its focus of National Summer Safety Week. The council notes that while jumping on a trampoline can be good exercise, dozens of children are treated for related injuries in hospital emergency rooms across the country.
"Parents need to make sure the equipment is safe and establish a few basic rules," Canada Safety Council president Jack Smith said in a statement. "Share with your kids the mindset that getting hurt is no fun, so it's important to be safe."
The council offered the following suggestions for trampoline safety:
- Always supervise children.
- Place the trampoline in a clear area, away from trees and structures.
- Inspect the trampoline before use for any signs of damage.
- Limit use of the trampoline to children over the age of six.
- Allow only one person to jump at a time.
- Teach children the proper manner to get on and off the trampoline.
No regulatory agency in Canada monitors the design and safety of trampolines. But the council noted consumers should check that the trampoline meets ASTM International (formerly the American Society for Testing and Materials) standards.
Injuries on the rise
The number of trampoline related injuries has grown steadily, with the Canadian Hospitals Injury Reporting and Prevention Program recording 149 trampoline-related injuries in 1990 and 557 in 1998.
The Children's Hospital of Eastern Ontariosaid it treats about50 patients each yearfor trampoline accidents, while other hospitals across the country have recorded similar statistics, the council said.
Fractures and sprains are common;more serious injuries include concussions, skull fractures, and broken necks and backs.