4
Trampoline Safety and Accident Prevention
As in most recreational sport, participants may be injured. This section covers the most
common accidents. Responsibilities of the supervisors and jumpers in accident prevention
are also outlined.
The following are reasons why accidents happen:
•
Attempting somersaults.
Landing on the head or neck can cause serious injury, paralysis,
or death, even when landing in the middle of the bed.
•
More than one person on the trampoline.
Use by more than one person at the same
time can result in serious injuries.
•
Incorrect mounting and dismounting.
Carefully crawl out of and into the trampoline bed.
Do not jump off to the ground. Do not jump from a roof, or other object onto the trampoline.
Small children may need assistance to get on or off the trampoline. Do not step onto the
suspension system.
•
Hitting the frame.
Stay in the center of the trampoline when jumping. Injury may result
from hitting the frame when control is lost. Be sure the frame cover is always on and the
pads securely fastened. Do not jump directly onto the frame pad.
•
Loss of control.
A jumper who looses control will increase his/her chance of injury. Be
sure to familiarize yourself with the basic jumps before doing more difficult ones. Jumps
should be mastered, performed repeatedly before moving on to the next level. To regain
control and stop your jump, bend your knees sharply as you land.
•
Alcohol and drug use.
Because alcohol and drug use impairs the jumpers' coordination,
loss of control as well as injuries are greatly increased.
•
Foreign objects.
Please make sure there is nothing sharp under and around the trampo-
line. Hitting objects under the trampoline can cause injury. Jumping with a foreign object
can also increase the chances of getting injured. Be sure there is adequate clearance 24
feet above and 10 feet around the trampoline. Be careful of overhead wires, tree limbs etc.
•
Bad weather.
Do not use your trampoline in gusty winds or inclement weather. The bed
should not be wet.
•
Poor maintenance of the trampoline.
Make sure you inspect the trampoline before every
use. Check for punctures on the bed, sharp burrs on the frame, stitching that has gone
bad or loose elastic bands. If a replacement part is needed, please call our hotline to
order.
•
Unlimited access.
The trampoline should be covered or dis-assembled when not in use.
This will prevent unsupervised small children from using the trampoline.
The jumper must first learn all of the basic, fundamental bounces before attempting more
difficult ones. Low, controlled bounces is a good start before learning the basic landing positions
and combinations. Jumpers need to understand that control is key to a successful jump. Review
of the users' manual to learn basic techniques is a must. Following the tips in the placard is
also important. Contact a certified trampoline instructor for more information.
Owner's & Supervisor's Role in
Preventing Injuries & Responsibilities
The supervisor's role is to make sure the users know all the safety rules as well as learn
the basic, fundamental bounces. They need to enforce all the safety rules and warnings in
the manual, frame and labels. When a supervisor is not available, the trampoline may be
dis-assembled or covered to limit access. It is the supervisor's responsibility that the placard
with the Trampoline Safety Tips is placed where all jumpers are informed about the tips.
User's Role in
Preventing Injuries & Responsibilities