Despite being routinely marketed as kid and family friendly outdoor equipment, trampolines cause tens of thousands of injuries each year, many of which are considered severe. While the majority of injuries do affect children, adults are frequently harmed as well from normal trampoline use. It raises the question, "Who can use a trampoline safely?"Some of the most common injuries caused by trampoline accidents are:Head injuriesParalysisBroken bonesDisabling leg injuriesIndustry regulations are not entirely strict, and some states have no regulations at all due to their own and a federal lack of guidelines. Packaging must have safety warnings and materials used in trampoline manufacturing must be reliable to a certain standard. Beyond these basic regulations, producers of trampolines are not bound by much else, perhaps due to the fact that trampolines are sometimes considered toys and other times sports equipment.There are some safety groups that advocate for stricter trampoline safety regulations. An example of proposed changes would be to only allow a trampoline to be marketed towards children if it was of a certain, small size that could not produce much height. Another proposed change would be to disallow any safety netting with holes in it. Despite the efforts of safety organizations that would see trampolines more strictly regulated, there is currently not much talk of legislation changing.Smart Trampoline Safety TipsWhether trampolines are given more regulations or not, there are some basic trampoline safety rules to always follow:Do not allow young children on trampolines.Only one jumper should be permitted on any trampoline at a time.Gymnastic and acrobatic flips should not be permitted.Do not allow jumping on a wet or ripped trampoline.Spotters should be placed around the edge of a trampoline during use.Set up trampolines only on flat surfaces away from obstructions and structures.Do not set up trampolines on hard surfaces, such as concrete.Always use safety pads to cover the frames, springs, and hooks of a trampoline.Consider using high trampoline safety nets.If you or a loved one becomes injured while using a trampoline, you may be able to sue the manufacturer or the property owner for damages. Call 678.974.0432 today to set up a free case evaluation with the help of the Law Offices of K. Douglas Cook and my firm's Atlanta personal injury attorney.
