Trampoline safety net enclosure
A trampoline safety net enclosure is a trampoline accessory that significantly reduces the chance of fall off and frame impact injuries.
History
The first commercially successful trampoline safety net enclosures were invented and patented by Mark Publicover in the United States and first sold there in 1997 by JumpSport Trampolines. By 2006 80% of all new trampoline sales included safety net enclosures.[1][2]
Other safety benefits
While a trampoline is safest when only one person jumps at a time, in practice the enjoyment derived from multiple simultaneous jumpers means that this recommendation is often disregarded.[3] Beyond the obvious benefits of keeping jumpers from falling off a trampoline or impacting the frame,[4] a safety net enclosure has other safety benefits in the face of multiple jumpers.
- Spread out jumpers – the presence of a surrounding net means jumpers are more likely to utilize the periphery of the trampoline bed and thus are less likely to collide with one another.
- Periphery hold points – netting mesh with large enough lattice holes allows spectators standing on the edge to hold onto the netting with their fingers and avoid falling inward and colliding with a jumper. Further larger openings allow for a nearly unobstructed view to allow supervision from outside of the enclosure.
Features of enclosures
Safety net enclosures vary from one manufacturer to another, including variability of the following features:
Entrance to trampoline
Enclosures include an opening in the net so that jumpers may enter and exit the trampoline. The design of such openings vary and include: snap/Velcro system, zipper, or overlapping sections. The snap, zipper, and Velcro systems require the person entering to both open and close the entrance, allowing for the possibility of misuse,[5] whereas the doubled over system avoids this requirement by being a passive solution. Additionally, the Velcro and snap solutions may fail when faced with a falling jumper exerting a large force on the opening.[6]
Netting material
Given that most trampolines are located outdoors, the netting material needs to be protected from disintegration due to ultraviolet sunlight exposure.[7] Ideally, netting materially is woven thick for strength and durability while soft to avoid skin burns when sliding against netting as such burns will occur with smooth netting.
Design style
Enclosures may attach in multiple ways, including being anchored to frame at bed level or anchored to perimeter poles. Because jumpers most frequently hit the net near the bottom, high quality fastening is must important at the net's bottom. In multiple jumper situations, enclosures that are placed inside the safety mat and springs should be avoided due to their confining jumpers from yielding to the exterior mat area.[7]
See also
- Trampolines
- JumpSport Trampoline
References
- ↑ "Trampoline–Safety–Facts".
Between 1998 and 2006 trampoline sales doubled from approximately 550,000 to 1.2 million in the United States. The Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) reported trampoline injuries increased at a significant rate each year prior to 1998. The good news? Since that time, reported injury rates leveled out and now show a decline. Obviously, trampoline enclosures, introduced to the marketplace in 1997, added a notable safety element for trampoline enthusiasts and contributed to reduced injury rates.
- ↑ George Rutherford, M.S.; Natalie Marcy, B.S.; Alberta Mills, B.A. (April 2004). "Hazard Screening Report – Outdoor Activities and Equipment Generally Considered Children's Products, but also used by Adults". Consumer Product Safety Commission. p. 18.
A third product, trampolines, has been the subject of work by CPSC’s Office of Compliance and CPSC staff has worked with industry and others to strengthen the voluntary standard for these products to reduce the hazards. The injury frequency associated with trampolines increased significantly from 1997 to 2000, but the two years since have shown enough of a decline that the change from 1997 to 2002 is not significant.
- ↑ "Summer Safety: Trampoline Dangers". ABC News. July 24, 2007.
Doctors said even extra safety gear and adult supervision aren't enough to make trampolines safe, and one of the worst things is when kids play together. More than one kid on a trampoline increases the odds of injury because it becomes a lot easier for a child to lose his balance.
- ↑ Ronald A. Furnival, MD; Kellee A. Street, MD; Jeff E. Schunk, MD (May 1, 1999). "Too Many Pediatric Trampoline Injuries". Pediatrics 103 (5). pp. e57.
Recommendations in several recent reports regarding recreational trampoline use have included increased supervision, increased use of spotters, placing the trampoline at ground level, placing padding around the outside of the trampoline, enclosing the trampoline within a fence, and the avoidance of complex maneuvers.
- ↑ Jamie Sotonoff (July 5, 2009). "Suburban doctors, parents weigh in on the trampoline debate". Daily Herald (Chicago).
While jumping with her friends on a large, backyard trampoline over Memorial Day weekend, 8-year-old Hannah Rickett of Mount Prospect accidentally fell backward through the unzipped netting.
- ↑ "Safety Net – Trampoline Safety". 2014. Retrieved June 19, 2014.
Entrance to Trampolines: The net opening allows jumpers to enter the trampoline and may take the form of a zipper built into the enclosure, a velcro or snap system, or an overlapping section of enclosure. While all forms are relatively safe when used properly, zipper, snap, and velcro systems are often misused and can lead to injury. Children who are hasty to start bouncing often forget to close the opening after entering the trampoline and leave a dangerous gap in the net through which they can fall off of the trampoline. In addition, jumpers can easily break through a velcro or snap opening during a fall. In light of these mishaps, TrampolineSafety recommends an overlap-style opening.
- ↑ 7.0 7.1 "Safety Net – Trampoline Safety". 2014. Retrieved June 19, 2014.
Quality of Materials: The material of the net itself is also an important factor in maintaining a safe trampoline environment. Make sure your net is UV protected to prevent disintegration of the net material over time. As an additional concern, nets with small interwoven holes introduce the potential hazard of jumpers getting their fingers caught in the netting. Ensure that your netting has wider interwoven holes or is composed of tightly woven mesh in order to prevent this danger.