Safety & First Aid The Dangers of Buying a Trampoline for Your Kids By Vincent Iannelli, MD facebook Vincent Iannelli, MD, is a board-certified pediatrician and fellow of the American Academy of Pediatrics. Dr. Iannelli has cared for children for more than 20 years. Learn about our editorial process Vincent Iannelli, MD Fact checked by Fact checked by Cara Lustik on April 04, 2021 linkedin Cara Lustik is a fact checker and copywriter. Learn about our editorial process Cara Lustik Updated on April 04, 2021 Print Karl Weatherly/Getty Images Home trampolines are popular with children and you often see them in the backyards of many families. Unfortunately, like ATVs and BB guns, they can also be dangerous. Dangers of Buying a Trampoline According to the Consumer Product Safety Commission and American Academy of Pediatrics, in 2014, there were 104,691 hospital emergency room-treated injuries associated with trampolines, mostly in young children and teens. Many of these trampoline injuries occurred when: Two or more people on the trampoline collide together Someone lands on a trampoline spring or the frame of the trampoline A person who is jumping or doing stunts lands wrong Someone falls off the trampoline Someone jumps off the trampoline Children were using home trampolines And tragically, since 2000, there have been at least a dozen deaths relating to trampoline use. How Trampoline Injuries Happen You just have to look at some recent trampoline accidents to see how easy it is for kids to get hurt while playing on a trampoline. Recent trampoline accidents and injuries include: Broken bones from bigger kids falling onto smaller kids, or legs getting caught between the mat and metal frames at a popular trampoline park. Several traumatic injuries at home during the COVID-19 pandemic. Most of these injuries didn't involve falling off the trampoline, which is how parents typically think accidents occur. And tragically, children sometimes die on trampolines. Home Trampoline Buying Advice To help avoid injuries from trampolines, you should follow the recommendations of the American Academy of Pediatrics and American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons, which strongly discourages their use and urges us not to make trampolines a part of outdoor playgrounds or play equipment. Keep in mind that even in a supervised training program, children under age 6 years should not use trampolines. So the basic advice for a parent that is considering buying a home trampoline is that you may want to reconsider, given these safety cocerns. Trampoline Safety If you must have a home trampoline, you should: Allow only one person to jump on the trampoline at the same time Encourage users to jump in the center of the trampoline mat Not attempt or allow your kids to do somersaults because if they land on their head or neck, it can cause paralysis Make sure that the springs, hooks, and frame of the trampoline are completely covered by shock-absorbing pads Not allow kids under 6 years of age to use a full-size trampoline Make sure kids have adult supervision when they are trampolining to make sure they follow safety rules and in case they get hurt Use a trampoline enclosure, which can help prevent kids from falling off the trampoline, but won't prevent other injuries and provide a false sense of security for parents Place the trampoline in a well-lit area, at ground level, away from any structures with which your child could collide if he falls off, including trees, walls, and fences, etc. Make sure your trampoline is anchored to the ground and that the ground is flat Install an impact absorbing safety surface material around the trampoline, such as wood chips, sand, or mulch, etc. Concrete is not a good protective surfacing material if your child falls off the trampoline. It is also important to regularly check the trampoline to make sure that it is in good working condition and that it hasn't been involved in a safety recall. Keep in mind a trampolines padding and enclosure net will likely last longer than the frame and mat and will need to be replaced at some point during the life of the trampoline. Was this page helpful? Thanks for your feedback! Get expert tips to help your kids stay healthy and happy. Sign Up You're in! Thank you, {{form.email}}, for signing up. There was an error. Please try again. What are your concerns? Other Inaccurate Hard to Understand Submit Article Sources Verywell Family uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read our editorial process to learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy. U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission. CPSC Safety Alert: Trampoline Safety Alert. American Academy of Pediatrics. Trampolines: What You Need to Know, Updated April 5, 2013. Alulema P, Rasmussen E. 25 Investigates: Lawsuits show pattern of injuries at popular trampoline parks. Boston 25 News. O’Connor A. Bike spills, trampoline falls and sips of sanitizer: how kids are getting hurt at home. The New York Times. Published June 19, 2020. American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons. Trampolines and Trampoline Safety: Position Statement. Updated September 2015. COUNCIL ON SPORTS MEDICINE AND FITNESS. Trampoline Safety in Childhood and Adolescence. PEDIATRICS. 2012;130(4):774-779. doi:10.1542/peds.2012-2082 Additional Reading Loder RT, Schultz W, Sabatino M. Fractures From Trampolines Results From a National Database, 2002 to 2011. Journal of Pediatric Orthopaedics. 2014;34(7):683-690. doi:10.1097/BPO.0000000000000189