If there’s anything we know A LOT about, it’s trampolines. And as much as we love to focus our attention just on fun, we also know how crucial safety is when it comes to trampolines. So let us share our knowledge! Are you playing it safe? 🤔 Take a look at the 5 tips below to find out!
Safety Tip 1: Littles on Big Trampolines?
We’re not trying to discriminate against 5-year-olds, we promise. But we don’t recommend letting kids under six jump on full-sized trampolines. This can be especially hard for all of those 4 and 5-year-olds who longingly wait for the day they can take their turn on the “big kid” trampoline.
But there’s a reason we recommend children be at least 6-years-old. You see, children under the age of six are still growing and developing, and they’re particularly prone to proximal tibia fractures, a type of a broken leg.
Dr. Michele LaBotz, member of the AAP (American Academy of Pediatrics) explained, "If you get an adult who's about 170 pounds bouncing with a kid who's 40 to 50 pounds, the recoil of the mat, when that kid lands — and especially if he's not landing right — he generates about the same amount of force as if he went from nine feet (three meters) onto a hard surface.” You usually don’t think of that because the mat appears more forgiving than it is.
Our Solution:
A proximal tibia fracture is more likely with young kids (usually ages 2-5 years) who jump on a full-sized trampoline with an additional heavier person. To create a better experience, we’ve provided an alternate option for little tots who want to hang with the big kids (because hey, we don’t blame ya, kid. Trampolines are cool.)
The Skywalker Trampolines Mini Trampoline line is the perfect solution for providing small kids a safe place to jump, explore, and learn. Our mini trampolines are equipped with stretch bands in the place of springs, to provide a smooth jump for growing bodies. A 360-degree handrail also helps kids stabilize their bounce, teaching them movement control. So all in all, it’s a win-win. 🙌
Safety Tip 2: Take Turns
Yes, we know this suggestion might seem a bit lame… especially for those who have fond memories of “stealing someone’s bounce” and getting shot up so high they practically circled the moon and back. Ah, science.
But science also tells us that 75% of all trampoline accidents occur when the trampoline has more than one jumper at a time. Ouch. It makes sense though… what starts out as a friendly game of popcorn might end in a few bumped heads and a couple tears shed, or one of those pesky tibia fractures we mentioned earlier.
Our Solution:
We know it might be hard for your little ones to wait their turn to jump… and it certainly doesn’t sound as exciting to jump solo. That’s one of the reasons we’ve created a variety of trampoline accessories, giving the whole family an opportunity to play. Check out some add-ons that might be a game-changer for your family, including basketball hoops, a volleyball net, a triple toss game, a bounce back game, and more! This list of games and activities might also give your kiddos some good ways to play together safely!
Safety Tip 3: Trampolines Aren’t for Snacking
Normally, we approve of multi-tasking, but this is not one of those times. Jumping while snacking increases the risk of choking as the movement can cause you to accidentally inhale food pieces. Choking scares, no thanks, man. We don’t need that kind of anxiety in our life.
Our Solution:
Try setting up an outdoor picnic in the grass next to your trampoline, and jump on the trampoline after you’ve finished eating to work up an appetite in between lunch and dessert! And it’s always okay to stop the fun for a quick snack break. 😋
Safety Tip 4: Watch Out for Wind
Windy conditions might not be the scariest of mother nature’s mood swings, but they can escalate quickly and create dangerous situations (I mean, just ask Dorothy how she feels about tornadoes 👠). The honest truth is that it can be quite hazardous to jump on your trampoline during high winds. Trampolines can become airborne quite easily, and cause significant damage to your property, your trampoline, and even yourself. 😨
Our Solution:
First, it’s a good idea to lower the enclosure poles of your trampoline when it’s windy, as the enclosure net acts as a sail and can pick up your trampoline with a good windstorm. It’s also a good idea to invest in steel wind stakes, which will help anchor your trampoline to the ground. Because trust us, if there’s one thing you want to avoid, it’s property damage. *shudder*
Safety Tip 5: Leave It to the Professionals
We know, we know. There’s something about trampolines that makes everyone feel like they’re suddenly an Olympic gymnast. 🤸 But even with the bouncy help of a trampoline jump mat, flips and somersaults can still be difficult to land correctly. The bounce of the trampoline can actually make it easier to lose control of your motion and land on your neck or head, basically getting trampoline whiplash. Ouch!
Our Solution:
If you want to know our opinion, and we guess you do if you’re reading this blog 🤷, then we suggest avoiding flips and somersaults completely. But if you want to work on those gymnast skills, ask for guidance and supervision from a professional to make sure you’ve got a safe technique. If you do decide you want to steer clear of flips, we promise you can still get your thrills and adrenaline pumping on the trampoline. Check out this blog post for some games and activities to keep yourself entertained on the trampoline!
So how did you do? If you’ve checked off everything in the list above, here’s a virtual gold star. ⭐ Congratulations, now look at you all aware and healthy on that Skywalker Trampoline. 👊
Sources:
http://www.pressreader.com/canada/times-colonist/20120925/282102043881464
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