Did Santa bring a trampoline this Christmas?
Sure the kids are delighted, but be warned – experts are now saying you might need to be extra vigilant when they are using it. Especially if your children are under the age of six.
An expert has issued a fresh warning to parents with young children.
According to Nicole Haynes, member of the Australian Physiotherapy Association, parents should rethink introducing a trampoline to their backyard if their child is under the age of six because of the potential risk of serious injury on their fragile, growing bodies is far too great.
“It is recommended that children be six years of age to minimise potential injuries,” Nicole tells Kidspot exclusively.
“Younger children are more prone to trampolining injuries due to their developing skeletal system, having less control as well as being less able to follow safety rules.”
According to Nicole the risk of injury to children from the use of trampolines is high and if recommended guidelines aren’t followed (including the suggested age), your little ones could suffer in years to come.
“Trampolines are a fun way for kids to be active however injuries sustained from trampolining are common,” the expert warns.
Same as being hit with a hammer
After much damning evidence revealing just how dangerous trampolines can be, other doctors are also now warning that allowing young children on a trampoline is not a good idea, and can, in fact, lead to “permanent and lifelong disability.”
In fact, according to the American Academy of Pediatrics and the America Academy of Orthopedic Surgeons ‘children under the age of 6 should never use a trampoline.’ This is due to the fact that their fragile bones are not meant to withstand the repetitive pressure from jumping.
Recently, Dr Christopher Mulligan, Orthopaedic Surgery Registrar from Sydney Children’s Hospital issued his own warning about popular trampoline parks.
“In 2014, with the opening of a trampoline park in the local area, we observed a spike in the numbers of children presenting to the Emergency Department of Sydney Children’s Hospital with injuries from trampolining,” the doctor said.
And earlier this year a US-based engineer compared jumping on a trampoline park to being hit with a hammer.
Pete Pidcoe revealed the multiple jumping surfaces in trampoline parks causes an unpredictable transfer of energy and it’s for this reason, kids are at serious risk.
“We found there is energy transferred between trampoline beds. It’s really one big trampoline,” the engineer told CBS News.
Is there a trampoline in your house?
