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Survey of injury sources for a trampoline with equipment hazards designed out

  1. David Eager1,
  2. Carl Scarrott3,
  3. Jim Nixon2,
  4. Keith Alexander4,*

Article first published online: 7 MAR 2012

DOI: 10.1111/j.1440-1754.2012.02426.x

Issue

Journal of Paediatrics and Child Health

Journal of Paediatrics and Child Health

Volume 48, Issue 7, pages 577–581, July 2012

Additional Information

How to Cite

Eager, D., Scarrott, C., Nixon, J. and Alexander, K. (2012), Survey of injury sources for a trampoline with equipment hazards designed out. Journal of Paediatrics and Child Health, 48: 577–581. doi: 10.1111/j.1440-1754.2012.02426.x

Author Information

  1. 1

    Faculty of Engineering and Information Technology, University of Technology Sydney, Sydney, New South Wales

  2. 2

    Paediatrics and Child Health, University of Queensland, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia

  3. 3

    Departments of Mathematics and Statistics

  4. 4

    Mechanical Engineering, University of Canterbury, Christchurch, New Zealand

*Associate Professor Keith Alexander, Department of Mechanical Engineering, University of Canterbury, Private Bag 4800, Christchurch 8140, New Zealand. Fax: +64 3364 2078; email: keith.alexander@canterbury.ac.nz

Publication History

  1. Issue published online: 3 JUL 2012
  2. Article first published online: 7 MAR 2012
  3. Accepted for publication 9 October 2011.

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Keywords:

  • child;
  • home;
  • product;
  • trampoline;
  • trampoline safety

Aim:  In Australia, trampolines contribute approximately one-quarter of all childhood play-equipment injuries. The purpose of this study was to gather and evaluate injury data from a nontraditional, ‘soft-edged’, consumer trampoline in which the equipment injury sources have been designed out.

Methods:  A survey was undertaken in Queensland and New South Wales. The manufacturer of the nontraditional trampoline provided the University of Technology, Sydney, with their Australian customer database. Injury data were gathered in a pilot study by phone interview, then in a full study through an email survey. Results from 3817 respondents were compared with earlier Australian and US data from traditional trampolines gathered from emergency departments.

Results:  A significantly lower proportion of the injuries caused by falling off or striking the equipment was found for this new design when compared with traditional trampolines both in Australia and in the USA. The age of children being injured on trampolines in Australia was found to be markedly lower than in North America.

Conclusions:  This research indicates that with appropriate design the more severe injuries on traditional trampolines can be significantly reduced.

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