Trampoline warnings

Doctors at Kingston Hospital in Surrey say they have seen a surge in the number of children they treat for accidents on a trampoline. . .

More than half of the 131 children treated at the hospital's emergency department last summer had no nets on their trampoline and no adult supervision. . .

Most had been playing on the trampoline with other people at the time of their accident. . .

A fifth of the injuries were in children under five who had been playing on large trampolines of more than 10 feet in diameter.

They were with an average of 2.7 other people on the trampoline which the Kingston doctors said was especially hazardous as the lightest person on the apparatus was five to 14 times more likely to be injured.

This happens through a phenomenon called "kipping" where synchronous jumping - jumping at the same time - causes the transfer of kinetic energy to the lightest person causing them to gain greater propulsive force and height.

Posted by David on September 29, 2009 10:58 AM