The following is a blog from the Consumer Product Safety Commission (“CPSC”) website located by Andrew F. Fick, Esquire, with the law firm of Liever, Hyman & Potter, P.C., in Reading, Berks County, Pennsylvania.
Jump, bounce, squeal. These are the happy sounds of a child playing on a trampoline in the backyard.
In between bounces a young child calls out to his friend, “Join me.”
The friend races out to the backyard and bounds onto the trampoline.
The sound of an “uh-oh” about to happen.
Only one person should be on a trampoline at a time.
Then, THUD.
The noise you don’t want to hear, typically followed by a child crying.
While just playing in and around the house, children often stub their fingers, bonk their heads, and fall down—all minor injuries.
Getting hurt on a trampoline can be much worse.
Last year, about 95,000 people suffered injuries of such a serious nature that there were taken to an emergency room for treatment. Between 2000 and 2009, 22 families lost a loved one from a trampoline mishap.
Installing and maintaining the enclosure around the trampolines and being aware that children younger than 5 are at the greatest risk of injury can make for a safer experience in the back yard.
Zip, cover, scoot. These are the sounds of you making the trampoline a safer place to play.
- Zip up the surrounding enclosure.
- Cover the springs, hooks and frame in shock-absorbing pads.
- Scoot the trampoline away from structures and trees.
Help minimize the risks of trampoline play. Learn more on [the CPSC’s] Trampoline Safety Alert page.”
(Source: CPSC website, On Safety blog dated July 29, 2013).
Liever, Hyman & Potter, P.C. serves the injured, and their families, in Reading, Pottsville and throughout Pennsylvania. The lawyers there handle personal injury claims, including claims for serious injuries or death.