Idaho Law Blog
Trampolines and trampoline parks are fun, but they can be dangerous. Trampoline park-related injuries have risen as the popularity of indoor jumping has spread.
A new study in pediatrics found that trampoline parks in the US have increased from 40 in 2011 to 280 in 2014. As one might imagine, injuries have also increased. In fact, trips to the emergency room due to injuries at trampoline parks have increased dramatically from 580 in 2010 to about 7,000 in 2014, the last year of the study. Interestingly, the study found that injuries from home trampolines remained constant over the same study period. As one might expect, those injured at these trampoline parks are more likely to be males around the age of 13.
The injuries sustained are particularly troubling. Kathryn Kasmire of Connecticut Children’s Medical Center found that dislocations and sprains are among the most common trampoline park-related injuries. However, some of the more serious injuries include skull, leg fractures, and spinal cord trauma. Such injuries are known to lead to paralysis and surgery in serious cases.
The International Association of Trampoline Parks (IATP) stated that it welcomes studies like this one that “provide a deeper understanding of safety issues.” The statement also noted that with industry growth the number of injuries isn’t surprising. “We believe that the positives of youth recreational sports far outweigh the negatives, and we are actively engaged at programs aimed at promoting the safety and well-being of jumpers who visit our member parks,” it said.
On the other side of the issue, Dr. Katherine Leaming-Van Zandt, an emergency medicine physician at Texas Children’s Hospital, called the exponential growth of trampoline parks and the injuries that go with them, “concerning.”
Dr. Leaming-Van Zandt told CBS News that Texas Children’s Hospital continues to see “a substantial number of trampoline-related injuries, including abrasions, lacerations, sprains, fractures, and head and neck injuries.”
The American Academy of Pediatrics advises against trampoline use for all youth but counsels that if children do use them, they should jump with caution. Certainly, before children jump, adult supervision is needed and trampolines should have proper padding.
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