Hospital issues trampoline warning

The Children's Hospital of Eastern Ontario is warning parents to watch more closely when their children play on trampolines, saying many seem unaware of the potential risk their kids face.

According to a CHEO study, the rate of injuries on trampolines is higher than the injury rate for cycling.

Across the country, more families are buying trampolines, and more children are getting hurt. National statistics show that in 1998 more than 550 kids and teenagers were injured most of them suffered broken bones.

In the past year, CHEO has treated more than 50 kids for trampoline injuries.

CHEO's recommendations

provide adult supervision, ideally four spotters restrict use to one person at a time limit access to children aged seven and older don't jump onto the trampoline from another object avoid somersaults and other manouvres cover the edges with a safety pad have a surrounding net

One of the reasons kids get hurt, said the director of CHEO's trauma program, is children have immature judgement.

"Kids have been injured jumping off the roof onto trampolines and then flying off. Children have been injured walking underneath trampolines when other kids are tramping on the upper surface," said Dr. Martin Osmond.

One study found that over half of trampolining injuries happen when more than one person is bouncing on the trampoline at one time, said Osmond.

According to the study, firm rules and a watchful eye greatly reduce the risk.