One of the children at our last Unschoolers Group meeting left in an ambulance. Seven years old, he had been wrestling on a trampoline with half a dozen other kids (including Tessa), had launched himself at another child, missed, and hit one of the trampoline springs with his forehead. The result was a large, and freely bleeding, gash. The trampoline did have pads to cover the springs but they had come away in places. Except in advertisements, I don't know that I've ever seen a tramp with the pads all neatly in place.
As it turned out, we could have stopped the bleeding and taken the invalid and his mother to the hospital ourselves, but in that first half minute when you have to decide whether or not to ring the ambulance, there was no way to know.
I have heard of fingers being severed by trampoline springs. I have heard of a baby or toddler double-bounced right over protective barriers, breaking a leg on landing. Josiah once landed badly off a trampoline and hurt his neck. Yet, there I was, inside chatting with friends, trusting that my children and others would use common sense on the trampoline. Now that I think about it, Josiah and Tessa, like most children, don't have much in the way of common sense!
So, Josiah, Tessa and I have been having discussions about safe use of trampolines. Children love tramps so much, it would be a shame I think to avoid them altogether, despite the risks. But I am inclined to restrict Tessa and Josiah to boring, one person at a time, jumping-in-the-centre-of-the-trampoline-only trampoline use.
Our young friend is recovering well, thankfully, though he may have a lasting scar.
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4 comments:
Before I leave, I must, out of respect for my late father who was a wonderful dad and pediatrician, relay a message from him. Of course this is a personal decision for everyone but his urging was "Please no trampolines!" Naturally, by occupation, he had seen the worst and it never made him an overly restrictive parent. But when his grandchildren were born, he asked us, the parents, to make three promises - no baby walkers, no trampolines and no motorcycles. The accidents can be far more serious than a facial scar or broken leg - they can be life threatening or permanent paralysis.
In order to satisfy the bounce urge - it IS such fun - , I bought a "Rebounder" which is a miniature trampoline - just 6" off the ground big enough for an adult or child to have loads of fun on. Our entire family uses it and then it is easily folded up or stored in a hallway. Can be used outside or in. Mine is made by Needak I believe. It's also great aerobic exercise.
That's interesting that it was baby walkers, trampolines and motorbikes that stood out as the most dangerous!
I agree, rebounders are great. We had one when Tessa and Josiah were small. It was a great outlet for physical energy. All of us would pause for a bounce when we passed it on our way across the room. Josiah used to like to jump on it when he was talking to someone.
Ours didn't fold up like yours but I have seen a rebounder which the owner converted to a low coffee table when not in use, by placing a slab of wood, the same circumference as the rebounder, on top of the rebounder.
I know exactly where you are coming from with the trampolines, last year I decided to go all out and buy an expensive tramp for my kids so they were safe, we had a large net around it and thick pads, we had only had it a few months when my 3 year old was jumping on it and fell over embedding a spring in his forehead, the pads had come away as he was jumping and I have never seen anything bleed so much, we rushed him to A&E, although ambulance was on my mind and were taken straight in as they could see all the blood, he had stitches and will have a lasting scar. i put up with the tramp for a little while, with strict rules, like one kid at a time etc, but rules were always been broken normally by other children and complaints of it been boring jumping on their own, forced me to decide to sell it, we have not even missed it and am pleased i don't have to worry anymore.
Nicky in New Zealand
Hi Nicky, sorry I didn't reply to this at the time - a busy month, I've been neglecting my blogs. Interesting to hear that your son had what sounds like pretty much the same trampoline accident as our friend! I have also heard of kids getting fingers stuck in the springs. Nasty. Our friend has recovered well and now has a small, tidy scar, which is slowly fading.
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