Community Corner

5 Safety Features to Look for on Trampolines

In light of a recent trampoline recall due to injury hazards, safety expert Dr. Marc Rabinoff offers five safety features parents should look for to be sure a trampoline is safe.

Following the , a safety expert reached out to Patch to comment on what consumers should look for to ensure safe jumping. 

Dr. Marc Rabinoff is a professor at the Metropolitan State College of Denver, and has consulted on and served as an expert witness in more than 100 legal cases dealing with trampoline safety and injury. He offered his opinion on the top five things parents should look for when buying a trampoline and safe jumping tips to avoid injury.

Top 5 Trampoline Safety Features to Look For:

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1. Set-up – Many trampolines have complicated instructions that increase the likelihood the trampoline will not be assembled properly, and can lead to injury. Always make sure the trampoline manufacturer provides clear instructions and guidelines for set-up, and that you follow them precisely so as not to miss any of the steps.    

2. Enclosures – Never buy a trampoline without an enclosure net, but always check to make sure the netting is strong, thick, and will not rip or tear. Many netting enclosures give a false sense of security because families trust that the net will keep them safe, however most are extremely thin and cheaply made so they fail easily.

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3. Rope Connections – Using rope or another type of cord to attach the netting enclosure to the frame is very common, however it’s also extremely dangerous. Never purchase a trampoline that uses rope to connect the net to the frame, as these can cause severe injuries like entanglement and strangulation.

4. Frame and Padding – Try to find trampoline models that do not have a metal frame at the jumping surface. Even when covered with padding, metal frames can result in serious injury.

5. Poles and Springs – Look for trampoline models with galvanized steel parts, which will not rust, stretch-out, or deteriorate over time. Many trampolines are made with cheap materials and metal pieces that quickly corrode outdoors, which increases the chances that the equipment will fail. Hard metal poles and springs can also cause injury to jumpers.


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