Trampolines

Are home trampolines safe?

No, home and trampolines aren’t safe. Do not use backyard trampolines.

Jumping on a trampoline is a high-risk activity. There is a chance that children and youth may get badly injured.

Alberta Health Services and The Canadian Paediatric Society recommend that you do not use a trampoline at home (including private homes, cottages and summer homes).

The Canadian Paediatric Society also recommend that trampolines are not a part of outdoor playgrounds.

Quick Facts
Between 2013 to 2017, the number of emergency department visits related to trampoline injuries went up 47% in children ages 0 to 14.

In 2017:

• 1829 Alberta children ages 0 to 14 years visited an emergency department after having a trampoline-related injury
• 66 of these children were injured badly enough to be admitted to the hospital for their injuries

The risks of a trampoline are related to its use. The majority of injuries occur on the trampoline itself.

Parents should not buy a trampoline for their home.

Trampolines aren’t play equipment and shouldn’t be part of backyard play areas.

What types of injuries can happen on trampolines?

Trampoline injuries often include:

• broken bones
• head injuries
• back and neck injuries
• sprains, bruises, and cuts

In some cases, injuries are bad enough to cause a permanent disability or death.

How do injuries happen?

Injuries happen when:

• more than one person jumps at a time
• people do flips and somersaults
• people land the wrong way
• people fall off while jumping

Safety nets, padding, and watching your child play on the trampoline doesn’t lower their risk of getting injured. There is no trampoline that’s designed safe enough to prevent injuries.

Bouncers

Are bouncers safe?

Bouncers are not safe.

Injuries happen on bouncers when:

• children bump into each other
• someone falls on someone who’s smaller
• children fall off (tall bouncers with slides are the most dangerous)
• it tips over or gets lifted up by the wind
• it loses air and collapses

A bouncer can lose air and collapse if:

• too many people are on at the same time
• the air pump fails
• it isn’t set up properly

What types of injuries can happen on bouncers?

The types of injuries that can happen on bouncers can include:

• bruises
• sprains
• broken bones
• head injuries

How can I help to keep my child safe on a bouncer?

If your child is playing on a bouncer at an amusement park or a community event, ask the operator to show you the proof of inspection and certification. The Alberta Safety Codes Act and Alberta Regulation (2012) needs all inflatable slides and most inflatable bounce devices to be inspected and certified when used at public events (such as fairs, street parties, amusement parks).

Before your child uses a bouncers, make sure:

• someone is watching them
• the bouncer doesn’t have too many people
• the children playing in a bouncer are the same size

If you’re using a bouncer in your backyard:

• Follow the manufacturer’s directions for set-up and use.
• Watch your child at all times.
• Teach your child to play safely and not to push (roughhouse), do summersaults, or other stunts or tricks in the bouncer.
• Do not use a bouncer when it’s windy or wet.
• Set up a bouncer on the ground and away from houses and other structures, trees, and dangerous areas.

What are safer ways for my child to get exercise and have fun?

Jumping on a trampoline or playing on a bouncer may seem like a fun way to get exercise and play with friends. But the fun ends quickly when someone gets hurt. There are safer ways to get exercise while having fun, such as:

• jumping rope
• playing catch
• going to the playground
• riding a bike