© The Independent
40% of children who require orthopedic care after injury on a trampoline will require surgery.
One study shows 40pc of children who need orthopaedic care after a trampoline injury will have surgery, said the Irish Association of Emergency Medicine.
Most falls occur while on the bed of the trampoline, not as a result of a fall from it. They are entirely preventable and in 35pc of cases, the injury was related to the presence of others on the trampoline. The injured child was supervised by an adult in only 40pc of cases.
The doctors said adults may also sustain or cause trampoline-related injuries, particularly when alcohol has been consumed. Because of deaths and serious injuries in the USA, the American Academy of Paediatrics recommends that trampolines are not bought for children. Parents should not allow their children to use a trampoline elsewhere.
As trampoline use is so common here, the Irish emergency doctors advise:
* Only one child at a time should use the trampoline
* Children should be supervised by an adult at all times
* Trampolines should be surrounded by appropriate safety netting to stop both ingress and falls from the trampoline
* Never use it under the influence of alcohol.
“Following these precautions will reduce, but not eliminate, injuries that otherwise might spoil enjoyment,” they said.