Trampolines
Every year, thousands of emergency room visits are linked to trampolines. Nearly 100 percent of all victims are under 15 years of age and over 10 percent of emergency room-treated injuries involve children under 5 years of age. Since 1990, the Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) has received reports of at least 6 deaths of children under age 15 involving trampolines.
Injuries and deaths linked to trampolines are usually caused by:
- Colliding with another person on the trampoline.
- Landing improperly while jumping or doing stunts on the trampoline.
- Falling or jumping off the trampoline.
- Falling on the trampoline springs or frame.
To reduce injuries, CPSC has worked with the industry to develop a new standard for trampolines, which went into effect in 1999. Four new requirements were added to make trampolines safer and alert consumers to potential dangers:
- Padding must completely cover the metal frame, hooks, and all springs.
- There must be a label on the trampoline box stating, trampolines over 20 inches tall are not recommended for children under 6 years of age.
- Ladders cannot be sold with trampolines to prevent access by young children.
- Warning label on the trampoline bed must alert consumers not to allow more than one person to jump at a time and to warn against somersaults that can cause paralysis and death.
To help prevent serious trampoline injuries, especially paralysis, fractures, sprains, and bruises, there are a number of safety steps to take:
- Allow only one person on the trampoline at a time.
- Do not attempt or allow somersaults because landing on the head or neck can cause paralysis.
- Do not use the trampoline without shock-absorbing pads that completely cover its springs, hooks, and frame.
- Lace the trampoline away from structures, trees, and other play areas.
- No child under 6 years of age should use a full-size trampoline. Do not use a ladder with the trampoline because it provides unsupervised access by small children.
- Always supervise children who use a trampoline.
- Trampoline enclosures can help prevent injuries from falls off trampolines.
If your child has been injured on a trampoline, it may be important to contact an attorney who can help you protect your legal rights. Please keep in mind that there may be time limits within which you must commence suit.
Attorneys associated with InjuryBoard.com will evaluate your case free of charge. In addition, you will not pay any fees unless your attorney recovers money for you. Please click on the free Ask An Attorney button to take advantage of this valuable service.
-- Article Courtesy of InjuryBoard.com
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