Yesterday we bought a trampoline for our kids. Looking for advice on what to do about letting neighbor's kids on it. At least 2 of our neighbors have trampolines that our kids play on, and they have never asked us to sign a waiver, etc...

I am thinking about getting an umbrella policy. We have USAA and I inquired about an umbrella policy a few years ago, but because I have my 67 GTO insured with someone else (Hagerty Classic Insurance) they would not give us an umbrella policy. I also have my wakeboard boat insured with a different company (Skiers Choice).

I know some people here will tell us they are too dangerous, it was a mistake for getting it etc... My kids can't live in a bubble and if they get hurt, that's part of growing up.

Just looking for general advice regarding what to do / not do when you have a trampoline.

No comment on other users, my kids are about the only ones that use ours.

But, make sure you have something solid to tie it down to in the event of a storm.
Ours took flight & luckily landed right side up, though it did bend 3 of the safety net posts.

It's now tied to the playhouse/swingset. Hasn't given any indication of movement since. Just takes a few extra minutes to untie/move to mow under it.

I've desperately wanted one for my kids. We ended not doing it because I do not want to be liable for neighborhood kids that hurt themselves on it. I got a small indoor one for now and my 2 year old son still manages to hurt himself. I just wouldn't let other kids play on it unless it's kids of really close friends and they are there to supervise.

Hello 1967Goat,

We have had our trampoline (with a net enclosure) for at least 10 or 11 years, and although there have been many many kids jumping in it for 100’s of hours the only serious injury was a friend’s four year jumping by himself when he landed awkwardly on his leg.

I will send an e-mail to you with my “TRAMPOLINE RULES” and phone number.

Please feel to call (easier to talk than to type it all out) me to discuss my very successful ‘enforcement’ techniques and the decision made on an insurance rider based on my research into that.

Best Regards,

Rob

ETA - If anyone else would like to talk with me about our trampoline experience please send me an e-mail with your phone number (which I will keep in strict confidence).

Our kids and their friends had and still have a great time with it and I would do it all over again.

Jumping in the trampoline definitely led to my daughter’s interest in competitive gymnastics where she attained Level-8 before deciding to focus on other interests.

My sister and brother-in-law bought a trampoline for my nephew when was probably 7 or 8. Could've even been a tad younger, I don't remember exactly. But he promptly broke his leg playing on it soon after they bought it. The doctor who casted his leg straight up told my sister if their son was brought back to the hospital again due to an injury on the trampoline, he would call DYFS (Division of Youth and Family Services in NJ). My brother-in-law got rid of the trampoline the next day.

You'll shoot your eye out!, no wait that's not a trampoline....

Neighbor put one in for his kids guessing 20 years ago, he took a bobcat, dug out the ground and lowered the trampoline into the ground so the top was just an inch or so above the ground.

Kids loved it, no climbing in, if you have one above ground, be sure it has a net around it, like a pool I'd be more concerned with a kid getting into it without being invited or known about than just having it.

quote:

Originally posted by Cookster:
Please feel to call

Email received. I'll call tomorrow, thanks!

quote:

:
The doctor who casted his leg straight up told my sister if their son was brought back to the hospital again due to an injury on the trampoline, he would call DYFS (Division of Youth and Family Services in NJ). My brother-in-law got rid of the trampoline the next day.

That's funny. I have a friend here in CO who has one. He was jumping on it with his 5 YO son. He managed to launch his son and his son broke his arm. I'll post the X Ray pictures when I'm on my home PC. He told me his surgeon here in CO told him if he was going to take it away, to also take away his bike and other fun things to do.

I hate to be that guy, but seriously I would get rid of it. Other kids want to use it, make their parents stand their and watch them.

I truly wish nothing but the best for you and your family.

hmm. You let your kids play on other peoples, with no waiver, but you want to CYA about other kids playing on yours. I can't say that I blame you, But how you gonna say "NO" now? an awkward position.

Sounds like plan ‘67Goat.

What area code is your number?

make sure you check with your insurance company, some exclude tramps

Let’s see I guess it’s three weeks ago now. They air lifted a kid to the hospital just a few doors down from us at the lake. Him and his cousin were on the trampoline together. One was on his way up the other on his way down. Knocked their heads together. One was out cold the other stayed conscious. The one became conscious but then couldn’t talk or move one side of his body.

Dad rushed them both to the hospital to a near small town. His son was the one air lifted to a city a hour away with better facilities. He regained movement and speech later that evening. They both had severe concussions. That trampoline wound up in the dump 48 hours later. Why you would even want to risk having that experience is beyond me but you’re mind is made up.

Why have something so inherently dangerous where you need extra insurance and signed waivers. Especially for kids. I don’t care how much insurance I took out or how many waivers were signed I couldn’t live with myself if someone’s kid wound up paralyzed not to mention one of my own.

My insurance company. Tennessee Farm Bureau, won't cover it and an umbrella policy with them only extends your existing coverage... according to my agent who has 25 years with them as a high risk specialist. If the trampoline is excluded form coverage it would not be covered by an umbrella policy either... with MY company anyway. I ask for clarification because I didn't believe him and yup. They also won't cover a pool unless it is fenced and has no slide or diving board.

My Daughter broke her ankle on one, still has screws in it to show for it. Was at a time when we had no health insurance.

Caution also reinforced by me coming home one day to a neighbor that I didn't even know lowering her toddler into my kids 12'x30" pool!

Also... according to my agent, keep it out of sight if possible. If seen by a kid it can be considered an enticement, and your legal responsibility goes up.

I guess you know where I stand.

Here is a decent read written by an MD to help put some of the concerns raised here in perspective -

My kid is safer on the trampoline than your kid is on the jungle gym.

Here’s the gist of my research into trampoline caused injuries:

With the highest rates of at-home trampoline injuries being attributed to jumper-to-jumper contact, children accidentally jumping off of the trampoline and children landing on and/or in-between the springs, there are definitive measures that can and need to be taken to reduce the chance of injury.

An interesting excerpt from the article -

“The most injuries reported, far and away, are on playgrounds, with approximately 221,468 injuries for kids age 0 to 14 years old.

Next up: Basketball (174,734), Bicycles (168,471), Soccer (106,231), Pools (96,768), Baseball (95,804), and then, Trampolines (84,959). The trampoline data includes home trampoline as well as trampoline park injuries (you know, those big indoor wall-to-wall trampoline businesses where just about everyone’s birthday party is held these days).”

Rob

This message has been edited. Last edited by: Cookster,

quote:

Originally posted by Balzé Halzé:
My sister and brother-in-law bought a trampoline for my nephew when was probably 7 or 8. Could've even been a tad younger, I don't remember exactly. But he promptly broke his leg playing on it soon after they bought it. The doctor who casted his leg straight up told my sister if their son was brought back to the hospital again due to an injury on the trampoline, he would call DYFS (Division of Youth and Family Services in NJ). My brother-in-law got rid of the trampoline the next day.

I believe I would have a talk with the hospital administrators regarding that doctors attitude and demeanor.

I rode a bicycle without a helmut, played tackle football without pads and a helmet, jumped on my neighbors trampoline A LOT, went swimming in the lake and a pool unsupervised. Also played pond hockey shot bb guns at buddies and a lot more.

I had a few injuries. The worst was when we were riding down a steep hill and trying to knock each other off our bike with baseball bats. I fell down but my buddy cut his knee to the bone. I claimed innocence but he got a ride in an ambulance.

Kids need to have fun. The poster who is going to send Trampoline rules seems reasonable.

quote:

Originally posted by Krazeehorse:

I believe I would have a talk with the hospital administrators regarding that doctors attitude and demeanor.

It was likely hospital policy.

quote:

Originally posted by cparktd:

Also... according to my agent, keep it out of sight if possible. If seen by a kid it can be considered an enticement, and your legal responsibility goes up.

Yes, this is called an “Attractive Nuisance” IIRC.

Whenever we were not at home and even at the end of the day, I would remove the steps from the entry and place them inside the trampoline, and then I would ‘sew’ the entrance netting closed with two or three bungies that I always kept at the trampoline.

Regarding insurance, my Erie Ins. agent advised that ‘riders’ were not available and that if something happened and claim a filed, ok, but after that the tramp. had better disappear because it would be a no-go the next time around.

quote:

quote:
Originally posted by Krazeehorse:

I believe I would have a talk with the hospital administrators regarding that doctors attitude and demeanor.


It was likely hospital policy.

^^^^^^^^^^
I doubt that. For the most part administration keeps their nose out of this sort of thing which would be considered a clinical issue. Some doctors remain self employed. If the physician continues with this sort of demeanor it can be brought before the Chief of Staff.

quote:

Originally posted by Cookster:
Here is a decent read written by an MD to help put some of the concerns raised here in perspective -

My kid is safer on the trampoline than your kid is on the jungle gym.

Here’s the gist of my research into trampoline caused injuries:

With the highest rates of at-home trampoline injuries being attributed to jumper-to-jumper contact, children accidentally jumping off of the trampoline and children landing on and/or in-between the springs, there are definitive measures that can and need to be taken to reduce the chance of injury.

An interesting excerpt from the article -

“The most injuries reported, far and away, are on playgrounds, with approximately 221,468 injuries for kids age 0 to 14 years old.

Next up: Basketball (174,734), Bicycles (168,471), Soccer (106,231), Pools (96,768), Baseball (95,804), and then, Trampolines (84,959). The trampoline data includes home trampoline as well as trampoline park injuries (you know, those big indoor wall-to-wall trampoline businesses where just about everyone’s birthday party is held these days).”

Rob

I don't even need to see the article, but I call bullshit on the use of those stats. Anyone who tries to downplay the risk of injury of anything without citing injuries per hour of play (or other proxy for total use) is frankly full of shit.

It's like saying motorcycles are safer than cars because there are fewer motorcycle deaths (6k) than car deaths (30k) per year. Uh, yeah, but per mile driven, you are 27 times more likely to die on a motorcycle.