Trampoline Safety Issues & Risks
Let me first clarify something: when I refer to items as “cheap” in this article, I am referring to the quality and not necessarily the price. There are many high quality pieces of equipment that are “cheaply” priced and there is no reason to suspect any problematic capabilities to be present simply because of a lower priced piece of merchandise. The issue within this particular article is the effective danger of a cheap trampoline to your family and friends.
Many of us are bargain-hunters, meaning that we have the stubbornness to look for a bargain on anything and everything because of an instinctive wish to save a few dollars. We want good quality products and do not want to pay a lot of money for it and there is nothing wrong with saving money. Some of us, however, couple that desire to save money with a rather inexcusable outlook on the quality of the products we shop for and end up purchasing “lemons” for the sake of saving a few dollars.
There are, of course, quite a few areas in which we should not risk a “lemon” purchase and one of these areas is the trampoline arena. If you are purchasing a trampoline for your family to use, you need to examine closely the fact that each year hundreds of adults are injured on trampolines. This should be enough of a motive to help you stray from the bargain priced trampoline purchase and select a model with a lot more safety capabilities. This can, however, be a challenging task.
Sort Through the Nonsense
Searching through all of the bargain priced trampoline propaganda to discover the truth about good quality trampoline materials and equipment can be an arduous and grueling job that may not seem worth it to many people. It can be easier to simply buy that bargain priced used trampoline from your neighbor and patch over the hole with some duct tape, but in the long run there is nothing easy about a visit to the emergency room because of a malfunction in the springs.
In fact, despite the obvious health and fun benefits, trampolines have been highlighted by the American Association of Pediatrics as generally unsuitable for children, whether indoors or outdoors, due to the potential danger factor. However, it’s easier said than done to convince children otherwise, therefore the AAP advises that should you go ahead with a trampoline, makes sure it’s as safe as it can possibly be.
Consider trampolines that are enclosed as they prevent falls and ensure that your trampoline has protection mats around the spring area. These features are never offered by a cheap trampoline, however, so make sure you are capable of handling this investment or you will be bouncing your way to a payday loan before you know it. You can’t put a price on happiness, but you certainly can put a price on safety.