Dear Friends,
I’m writing to let you know about an organization called “Think Before You Bounce” that some friends and I are forming to help bring awareness to the risks associated with trampoline parks. I know of several kids (and parents) who have been injured at trampoline parks and it’s clear to me that trampoline parks are very dangerous places, much more dangerous than residential or single trampolines. (Full disclosure: Our family owns a trampoline…with a safety net.) Please read the quote in the press release below about the specific dangers of trampoline parks from safety consultant William Avery: it is chilling. Trampoline parks are a new and largely unregulated business, just like bungee jumping once was. About 100,000 people are injured every year on single trampolines at private residences; unfortunately, no one has the data about trampoline parks because they are so new. I’m writing to ask you to “like” our organization’s Facebook page because we’re trying to get the word out. If you have stories about trampoline park injuries, please e-mail them to me and I will post them to our Facebook page. Please also feel free to forward this e-mail to friends.
Sincerely,
Tom
p.s. If you don’t know what trampoline parks are, there’s a photo of one below and a full list can be found at our Facebook page.
p.p.s. I’ve also included below some facts about trampoline parks, as well as our press release, which should be going out in the next day or two.
Trampoline Park Safety Summary (from Think Before You Bounce Facebook page)
According the American Association of Pediatrics, the two major trampoline injury sources are:
- Jumping with more than one person at a time.
- Landing improperly.
Trampoline parks amplify these dangers in a few major ways.
- Multiple people can jump on the same trampoline.
o Since these parks are busy on weekends, multiple jumpers can happen many times over the course of a single day.
- The possibility of landing improperly is increased as people jump between multiple trampolines that can have different surface tensions.
- Jumpers might accidently land on the spring-laden trampoline borders if they are not properly covered
In terms of regulation, trampoline parks are currently in a regulatory no-man’s land—they are part amusement park, part gym. As a result, they are generally only governed by local building codes. This is worlds away from the regulation of other fun and potentially dangerous activities such as ski slopes, rock climbing walls, and bungee jumping. Those activities often have state regulations allowing interested parties to safely participate and we hope to have the same for trampoline parks. These regulations would govern:
- Design and layout of the parks
- Encouraging risk-awareness signage
- Safety training for employees
- Other factors designed to make trampoline parks safe and fun
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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
“Think Before You Bounce” Promotes Trampoline Park Safety
SAN FRANCISCO, California (August 24, 2011) – Think Before You Bounce, a group dedicated to promoting increased trampoline park safety, is beginning a campaign to raise awareness about the dangers of trampoline parks. To get the word out, they are launching a Facebook page.
Trampoline parks are new, massive structures, growing around the country and largely unregulated. They are less regulated than similar high risk sports such as bungee jumping, skiing, or rock climbing precisely because they are new. Although trampolines parks are fun and a growing trend, there are serious risks to consider before participating, authorizing kids to bounce or hosting a party at a trampoline park.
Approximately 100,000 people are injured on trampolines every year in the US. No statistics are yet available about injuries at trampoline parks, a by-product of the newness of the industry and the lack of regulation. The largest causes of traditional trampoline injury are bouncing with more than one person and landing improperly. These risks are only multiplied in trampoline parks, where many people bounce or jump in the same general space and they can bump into each other.
Nationally recognized amusement industry safety consultant, William Avery, after reviewing the trampoline park concept and after an inclusive but not exhaustive study of safety rules associated with this type of activity said the following: “Trampoline parks are like planning a disaster. It’s not if, but when these type of parks will generate fractures and quadriplegics. I frankly can’t believe that these organizations have been able to secure insurance.”
The American Association of Pediatrics (AAP) considers traditional trampolines to be so dangerous that they only recommend their use in supervised training programs like gymnastics and diving. They expressly state that traditional trampolines should not be used at home or even at physical education classes in school, unless supervised by competent personnel.
Think Before You Bounce’s mission is to make trampoline parks safer through awareness, regulation and design. The group was founded in San Francisco, California in 2011. To find out more, please visit http://www.facebook.com/pages/Think-Before-You-Bounce/215155945180376.
Contact:
Tom Paper
tom@websterpacific.com
415-733-9740
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