'Don't drink and bounce' warnings

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Doctors in Dundee dealt with 50 trampoline injuries in just six weeks

Children are being injured on trampolines because too many people, including drunk adults, are crowding onto them, doctors have warned.

Medics from Ninewells Hospital in Dundee analysed 50 injuries seen in their A&E department over six weeks.

They found 80% of the problems were related to the high number of bouncers climbing onto the equipment.

The good weather could see a rise in the numbers falling off, with the lightest people more likely to be hurt.

Some 46% of the cases analysed by the group had lack of adult supervision as a factor, while 64% involved no safety net.

The team found that 54% of injuries were on the legs, 32% on the arms and 14% on the head, neck, face or chest.

Dr Andrew Bogacz from Ninewells explained that often injuries were caused by adults and children bouncing together and getting out of phase with each other.

It was just the impact of having lots of kids of different ages and sizes on the trampoline and she snapped two bones in her legs Karen Sadiq

"As the adult bounces on the trampoline with the child their weight brings the platform of the trampoline down and back up to meet the child as they land - this causes a force into the child's bones," he said.

"This causes quite significant injuries, usually fractures, which has a large consequence for the child, often requiring an operation and a stay in hospital, not to mention the emotional impact on their confidence, time off school, time away from their friends during the holidays."

Karen Sadiq's two-year old daughter Amina has her leg in plaster after an accident which happened only three days after they bought the trampoline for their garden in Bearsden.

Mrs Sadiq said: "She was on with her two cousins and her brother and wee neighbour next door and I think they all jumped together and they all came back down and she landed the wrong way on her leg.

Karen Sadiq thought the trampoline was safe because it had a net

"I think it was just the impact of having lots of kids of different ages and sizes on the trampoline and she snapped two bones in her legs.

"It was a really big shock, I'm still trying to get over it because that's her stuck for six weeks now and it's a big lesson for me.

"If they have friends round it's a large responsibility. You think it's okay because there's a net on it, but now I'm thinking twice about everything."

Peter Cornall, head of leisure safety at the Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents (RoSPA), said that trampolines can be fun and provide exercise.

"The boom in trampolining has almost certainly led to an increase in accidents, but that does not mean parents should not buy trampolines for their children," he said.

RoSPA advise selecting the right equipment, position and space, properly supervising children, considering a net or cage, and ideally making sure that only one person bounces at a time.