Parents should be discouraged from letting kids bounce on
trampolines at home, according to an updated policy statement
from the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP). Using a
trampoline is inherently dangerous, the authors of the report
said, and safety features like enclosed netting and padding are
insufficient to reduce the risk of injury. Many children still
get hurt on trampolines, even under the supervision of a parent
or adult. “Pediatricians need to actively discourage
recreational trampoline use,” said statement co-author Dr.
Michele LaBotz, in the updated policy. “Families need to know
that many injuries occur on the mat itself, and current data do
not appear to demonstrate that netting or padding significantly
decrease the risk of injury.” The majority of trampoline
injuries — 75% — occur when more than one person is jumping on
the trampoline at a time. Usually the youngest and smallest
jumpers are at the highest risk for getting hurt; fractures and
dislocations account for 48% of injuries in kids u