Jumping up and down on a trampoline feels like a right of passage for many young people. It is an experience that can live long in the memory when you take your first leap on one as a child, but it can also be just as enjoyable as an adult.
This sense of pure joy has most likely given rise to the ever-increasing number of trampoline parks that can be found dotted around the UK.
But could these trampoline parks be a cause for concern and are they a personal injury scenario waiting to happen?
A recent report by the BBC would suggest so. The report revealed that in 2017 there were 1,181 ambulance call-outs at trampoline parks across England, that is more than 3 per day.
Trampoline parks have become something of a phenomenon in recent times with an estimated 10-15 million people visiting them each year, and there are now over 150 parks located throughout Britain.
Usually, the parks are created in a warehouse-style building, which is filled with interconnecting trampolines. Whilst the parks are a relatively new concept in the UK, they have proven popular in America for some years, and the sector in the UK is growing quickly.
But trampoline parks are laden with potential dangers and pose a significant risk to individuals who may end up suffering a personal injury.
In 2017 the North West had 293 ambulance call-outs to trampoline parks, the highest number of call-outs of a single region in the UK.
What type of injuries can occur?
Trampoline parks naturally carry an inherent risk of injury and how likely you are to suffer a personal injury may depend on how you interact with the trampolines.
However, even if all precautions are taken, trampoline parks have the potential to cause catastrophic injuries, this is something that is acknowledged by the Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents (RoSPA).
Broken and fractured limbs are among the most common injuries reported, however, there is a significant risk of suffering a potentially life-changing spinal cord injury.
Safer to jump at home?
When it comes to trampolines, it has been suggested that it may be safer to jump at home rather than in a congested trampoline park.
RoSPA suggests that serious life-changing injuries that currently occur, tend to happen when 2 or more people are using the same trampoline, with a significant increase in risk when it is an adult and a child using the same apparatus.
Many injuries occur when the adult falls on the child, or the child bounces too high when they are in sync with the adult.
RoSPA also suggests that using a trampoline at home will counteract this possibility as the child’s activity will be easier to monitor by the parent at home.
In order to be as safe as possible, RoSPA has put together a selection of safety guidelines in a bid to reduce the risk of using a trampoline at home. These guidelines include:
- Setting the trampoline on grass or wood chips – this will help the trampoline reduce the impact of each jump on the user’s body.
- Sinking the trampoline into the ground if possible – this will mean there is little to no height to fall from should the person jumping fall off the trampoline.
- Use a net – encasing the trampoline in a net can help prevent the person who is using the trampoline from falling off it.
Will trampoline parks always be an issue when it comes to personal injury?
The answer still remains unclear. However, RoSPA, the British Standards Institution and the International Association of Trampoline Parks are working together to establish a firm set of guidelines for use at trampoline parks in the future.
What can you do if you are injured at a trampoline park?
If you have suffered a personal injury at a trampoline park and it occurred as a result of someone else’s negligence you may be entitled to compensation.
Here at Thorneycroft Solicitors, we have a nationally renowned team of personal injury solicitors.
Our team have dealt with many successful claims and will offer you an empathetic and professional service should you decide to pursue a personal injury compensation claim.
Our team works on a no-win-no-fee basis and we also offer a free initial interview so that we can assess the potential of your claim.
If you’d like to speak to a member of our personal injury team, please complete our online enquiry form or alternatively give us a call on 0800 1979 345.
