Saturday, February 21, 2009

Age And Safety; Vital In Choosing Your Family's Trampoline

By Jane Bracken

If you are looking into purchasing a trampoline for your family but you have children; there are many things you need to consider. Age is one of them, and safety is the second. Both of these issues often times prevent families from enjoying a trampoline as they are scared to even purchase one.

Common injuries on the trampoline usually are all related to three things. One being the jumper fell off, the second is the jumper collided with something or someone else, and lastly is they got snagged on the springs. However there are many ways a parent can limit all of these injuries for their child.

Trampoline manufacturers designed many different models of trampolines. They vary from extremely large trampolines that are designed specifically to carry multiple jumpers to trampolines that are made especially for toddlers. No matter what kind of trampoline you plan to purchase, being informed about them is essential.

Larger trampolines can be over 14-feet wide, and come in a variety of shapes. It is commonly thought that round and octagonal trampolines produce the best results. Corners do complicate safety issues by creating an area of the trampoline mat with two sides connecting to the frame instead of one. If worried about spring injuries, a square or rectangular trampoline may not be the right for your children.

Manufacturers have attempted to provide extra safety by including covers that wrap around the entire frame to protect jumpers from the springs. Unfortunately, jumpers can still injure themselves from the springsa cover moving, or from getting their hands or feet under the cover. Though a great idea, the spring cover is not foolproof. These trampolines would be better suited for older children.

Normally when you purchase a trampoline with a spring cover you get another added benefit - enclosures. This is a netting that is designed specifically to keep the jumper in the trampoline and not flying out of it. No matter the size of your trampoline, they are available and great for any age. Not only will you be protecting your children from spring injuries but also from falling out.

Enclosures, like the spring covers, are not foolproof. Larger children can sometimes break through the netting and injure themselves. Though enclosures greatly increase the safety of a trampoline, they, like any sports equipment, must be used with caution. Enclosures work best with smaller children.

There is one last group left; and that is the toddlers. Those children under ten that want to jump but you are scared they are at a high risk on a larger trampoline. Luckily there are trampolines designed specifically for them that provide maximum safety. They are close to the ground, have no springs, and are extremely stable.

These springless trampolines are by far the safest on the market. So if safety is your main concern, purchasing a springless trampoline with enclosure is the best option. It can easily put any doubt of injury out of your mind as there is no chance of falling out or getting a spring related injury - because there are no springs. Not only are they safe but they are less expensive to ship, cheaper to repair, and last longer than the traditional spring trampoline. A springless trampoline is the safest route, however there are many other models and methods you can use to have a safe and fun jumping experience.

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