What starts out as a fun afternoon of bouncing around on trampolines can turn into a complete disaster for parents and kids alike if 
someone suffers an injury at a trampoline park. With many activities, equipment, and other inexperienced jumpers, trampoline parks can be a recipe for sprains, bruises, broken bones, or even death. It’s vital that parent and participants of all ages understand the risk involved in trampoline park injuries when they participate in this type of activity.
Trampoline Park Injuries and Statistics
You may have noticed that trampoline parks have been popping up with frequency around the country. Unfortunately, according to a report by CBS News, visits to the emergency room by trampoline park attendees have also increased from 2,500 in 2013 to 18,000 in 2017, and six people have lost their lives due to injuries sustained at one of these facilities over the past seven years. The injuries have the potential to be so dangerous that the gymnastics community calls these parks “death parks.”
In studies done on the injuries sustained at trampoline parks, it has been concluded that they are usually more severe than those injuries that occur on at-home trampolines. In one study reported in the Journal of the American Academy of Orthopedic Surgeons that followed 439 trampoline injuries over two years in the U.S., more injuries occurred on home trampolines (66%) but more than 50% of the injuries reported at trampoline parks involved fractures or dislocations. In fact, adults were more than twice as likely to need surgery for an injury that occurred at a trampoline park than at home.
Some adult injuries have been so severe at trampoline parks that they have resulted in death. Ty Thomasson was only 30 years old when he broke several vertebrae in his neck somersaulting into a ball pit at a park in Phoenix. He never recovered from his injuries. Additionally, Ric Sweezy, a collegiate national champion gymnast, died in 2017 when he came down on the wrong foot and hit his head on a thinly padded wall at a trampoline park. His vertebra cracked in his neck and restricted his airway and the blood flow to his brain, which eventually caused him to become brain dead and pass away.
Causes of Injuries
One major cause of injuries at these types of gyms is due to a “double bounce,” or when one’s jump causes waves across the surface of the trampoline that can cause someone else to sustain crush type injuries if bouncing at the same time. Patrons having collisions with equipment such as walls or springs can cause other types of injuries. Though there should be padding on all dangerous surfaces, the padding does not eliminate the risk of injury.
Additional risk of injury comes from patrons interacting with other patrons and causing accidents. An example of this may be a double bounce injury, or a patron jumping and landing on another attendee. In these cases, each patron having awareness of who is around them and ensuring that children and adults use separate equipment can largely prevent this type of serious injury.
Trampoline Park Safety
It’s important that parents consider the risks involved in allowing children to attend events at trampoline parks. Adults, too, should be careful with their activities at these types of facilities. If you do choose to participate in trampoline activities, you should always speak to the facility about their safety policy. Ask them when they check the safety of the springs and equipment. The answer should be every day.
Also, ask how the staff is trained and what qualifications they have for being responsible at that type of facility. There should be a staff member at each station monitoring the participants there the whole time. Regular rotation of the staff is also important to maintain safety so that staff does not become complacent.
Any facility should provide patrons with a safety video and tips while using the equipment. Warnings about the risk and dangers should be posted as reminders around the facility. Children and adults should always respect the instructions and warnings of the staff.
There are no federal regulations surrounding trampoline parks, and states are not consistent in enforcing their own regulations if any exist. It’s important that potential participants take the time to understand the safety measures that are needed to enjoy the experience without injury. However, it is still possible that some facilities are not up to par when it comes to standard safety.
If you or someone you love has been injured at a trampoline park due to the negligence of the facility or its failure to provide proper safety measures, it is important that you contact an experienced personal injury attorney. Contact us for a free one-time consultation at 305-662-6178.
References:
Tavss, J. (2019, March 29). Deaths, injuries at trampoline parks jump to dangerous levels. Retrieved from https://local10.com/news/national/deaths-injuries-at-trampoline-parks-jump-to-dangerous-levels
Bouncing From ‘Jump Park’ Trampolines Into the ER. (n.d.). Retrieved from https://usnews.com/news/health-news/articles/2019-02-05/bouncing-from-jump-park-trampolines-into-the-er
Miele-Pascoe, L. M. (2019, January 11). Injury Prevention: Trampoline Park Safety – Expert Overview. Retrieved from https://robsonforensic.com/articles/trampoline-expert-witness
TodayShow. (n.d.). How safe are trampoline parks? Mother who lost son wants regulations. Retrieved from https://today.com/parents/how-safe-are-trampoline-parks-mother-who-lost-son-pushes-1D80154946
