Are Trampolines Truly Safe?

It’s natural for parents to want to ensure their kids are safe and well looked after. So, when it comes down to buying a trampoline for your little one, it’s normal to be a little cautious. However, while you weigh up the risks of getting a trampoline, we suggest that you also consider the benefits of having one for your kid!

Bouncing around on a trampoline is an amazing way for our kids to release some pent-up energy and get a little bit of exercise. Trust us, when your kid goes straight to bed because they’re tired from jumping, that trampoline will be worth it! 

To ease your mind, we’ve taken a closer look at the risks of getting a trampoline for your kid and whether they’re safe or not. 

Are Trampoline Safe or Dangerous?

This is a bit of a situational question, considering the safety of a trampoline heavily relies on the person jumping and other circumstances. For instance, your kid could have a double-bunk bed and get injured. So, to answer the question, trampolines are safe when they’re used under supervision and the right safety measures are followed. 

Our kids need exercise. In fact, the World Health Organisation suggests that kids between the ages of five and 17 need about an hour of moderate to intense exercise a day. What exercise is there to let them go wild on the trampoline for an hour? 

Now, we do need to look at this realistically. Trampolines are dangerous and children can definitely get injured on them, especially when they’re playing the fool and being reckless. But, what can we expect, kids are going to try new things and get hurt while doing it. It’s how they learn. Our job is to ensure that the environment in which they try new things is as safe as possible.  

How likely are kids to get injured on a trampoline? 

There are several reasons as to why kids get injured on a trampoline. We’ve already mentioned one of them. Kids like to try new things and test their limits, especially when they have other friends over. This be them trying to do tricks like a summersalt or trying to double-bounce one another. Either way, these activities can often result in unforeseen accidents that involve injuries.

The other reason is that kids can jump without supervision. When the parents aren’t around, kids are more likely to be reckless, doing something on the trampoline that isn’t exactly safe or smart. In most cases, injuries that occur are from jumping on the trampoline in the wrong way or trying something they shouldn’t. These injuries are also more likely to happen to the lower parts of the body, like the legs, hips, feet, or ankles. These parts of the body are the ones that take the brunt of the impact when jumping on a trampoline. 

Tips for trampoline safety

As parents, we can’t always stop our kids from doing crazy things, but we are able to somewhat make the environment safer, as we mentioned earlier. Here are some tips to help make jumping on the trampoline safer:

Adult Supervision

For kids who are still pretty young and new to the trampoline, adult supervision is probably going to be the best solution to preventing injuries. By supervising your child jumping, we don’t mean jumping at every chance of injury. Kids still need to have fun on the trampoline right? 

Child-proof the trampoline

Many trampoline stores like Vuly Trampolines sell additional safety equipment with their trampolines for smaller kids. To make things safer, you can purchase a safety net for the trampoline, ensuring your child can’t fall off. You can also purchase protective pads that fit around the frame of your trampoline, protecting your child from getting caught in the springs or hurting themselves against the trampoline’s metal frame. 

We’d also suggest placing the trampoline in an appropriate place. For instance, you don’t want it directly under a low-hanging tree or near a building that could hinder your child’s ability to jump or be a potential safety risk. 

Assemble it correctly

Another cause of accidents with equipment like trampolines is when they’re not assembled correctly. Whether there’s a loose screw in the frame or the springs aren’t attached properly, you’re asking for trouble. To avoid this, just follow the assembly instructions that came with the trampoline. 

You’ll also come across some other valuable information, like how much space the trampoline takes up and what the weight limits are on it. Knowing this information can help you avoid accidents if you adhere to it. 

Jump one at a time

This might not be the most popular rule for kids, especially when their friends are over, but making kids jump on the trampoline one at a time is key to ensuring they ump safely. When kids jump together, they can get a little carried away. Jumpers can collide with one another, or the trampoline could get damaged because of the excess weight. 

Choose an appropriate trampoline for your child

Children can take time to get used to the jumping sensation on a trampoline. While most catch on pretty fast, it’s better to purchase a trampoline that’s appropriate for your child. So, if they’re young, maybe consider getting them a smaller trampoline that has less rebound and additional safety features. Look for trampolines with a net, as we mentioned earlier, pads over the springs, and possibly a ladder that will help your child up onto it. For younger kids, you might even want to choose a trampoline that sits lower to the ground so they can get on and off of it by themselves. 

Final Thoughts

Coming home to jump on a trampoline will be a highlight of your kid’s day and once they’re on it, they’ll jump to their lungs give out. Go the extra mile to make sure your kid’s trampoline has the necessary safety features and you’ll notice that the safety risks will significantly drop.