Concerned mom-- play equipment safety question

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Hello all,

Please forgive the intrusion, I was reading the NICU nurses forum and in the discussion regarding whether a NICU nurse would choose homebirth, it was mentioned that for the same reasons a NICU nurse would not choose homebirth due to their experiences with homebirth tragedies, that a trauma nurse would not buy a motorcycle, and a PICU nurse would not get her child a trampoline. I was surprised that a trampoline was given as the ultimate example in that instance.

I'm very concerned as we own a trampoline. Ours has a safety net. Are the injuries mostly associated with falls from the trampoline? Please be blunt.

Wen

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Specializes in Maternal - Child Health.

In my opinion, a safety net is next to useless unless it is coupled with adult supervision AT ALL TIMES!

I am not a PICU nurse; my experience with trampoline injuries comes from watching my neighbors. The injuries I have seen have not been associated with falls from the trampoline, although that is certainly a concern. They have involved multiple children jumping at once, causing unintentional head-butts (concussion), and children accidentally jumping on each other (broken arms and legs).

I love trampolines, and have fond memories from my own childhood, but I insist that my kids use the neighbor's trampoline only when an adult is watching. Frankly, I prefer them to go to the park district or Y where they have experienced instructors.

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I appreciate your response. I'm actually doing my online research as we speak, and apparently it's not usually a matter of falls from the tramp. Just the forces associated with jumping is the main culprit. Well, at least I'm better informed about tramp safety, but my ds (10) loves to do acrobatics, and of course all the kids want to jump together. I have some tough rule-changing and-enforcing to do today.

Wen

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Specializes in Education, FP, LNC, Forensics, ED, OB.

My children were raised with a tramp. I hated it every single time they used it. But, that's another story.

My oldest was outside jumping on it and the youngest got on. The oldest bounced the youngest off. She was very lucky. No serious injury.

I've not seen serious injury in peds, but hear about them all the time. If I were to repeat their childhood, I would not have one. Most of the injuries I see are adults who crash into the frame. Fx jaws and such, even with the padding.

As I said, she/we were very lucky.

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Specializes in Peds - playing with the kids.

[evil]boo to trampolines!![/evil]

they are evil!! lots of broken bones, serious sprains, head injuries, wounds from slipping between the trampoline and the frame. even with a net and supervision these things occur. they are evil:angryfire :angryfire .

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Specializes in ER, NICU, NSY and some other stuff.

Had a 2 yr old in our ER last year with a fx femur. She got fell on by an older sibling. Parents were standing right there.

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Specializes in NICU.

My gosh, I get scared enough using my 3 foot wide exercise trampoline! I remember my best friend having a large trampoline when we were growing up, way way before they had all the safety nets and stuff. Hers had a 2-foot gap between the trampoline and the metal brace, and another 2-foot space between the huge exposed metal springs. I was terrified of the thing. I didn't use it very often, because I regularly saw her and her brothers slip off the thing or hit themselves on the metal. Her brothers in particular liked to jump hard enough to knock others off their feet or off the trampoline - on purpose.

If you already own a trampoline, it's going to be very hard imposing rules now.

If you don't own one - I'd say don't even think about buying one.

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My children were raised with a tramp.
:uhoh21: :p

I bet the ER forum would have more examples.Personally, I know of a co worker's daughter who fell off one and had a tib/fib fx.It'll be a cold day when I buy one for my kids. :nono:

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I like the moon bounces that are getting easier to find in stores. So much safer, and actually about the same price as a tramp with enclosure. They are enclosed, too; the kids can't bounce as high to do the flips, etc that really frighten me so they stay on their feet; no springs, no metal; safe for more than one kid to bounce; and an added perk... they need an adult to set them up so you know your kid can't be on it without adults knowing... and hopefully supervising. No jumping on it when you're at the grocery store picking up the milk for dinner!

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well as a teen i was a witness to many a trampoline accident. Some were of the wound variety from falling between the springs and ripping up legs and arms, others were concussions and broken bones. I think trampolines are fine 1 at a time or with 2 kids who aren't really wild and are about the same size and weight. We used to have one and when our 3 yr old decided to bounce off of it onto the ground (i caught her thankfully) we dismantled it.

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Specializes in Nephrology, Cardiology, ER, ICU.

I work in a big trauma center and to be honest, though we see trampoline injuries, four-wheelers and ATV accident are much worse in my part of the country. Also - backyard pools cause many a heartache.

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