But as sales of trampolines have risen, so can the number of injuries.

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The American Academy of Paediatrics has gone so far as to say that parents should never purchase a home trampoline or allow their children to use one.

Other American experts stop short of such a blanket prohibition, but they do counsel strict guidelines. Follow these tips compiled by the American Academies of Paediatrics and Orthopaedic Surgeons and the CPSC, and the risk of injury to your child could be greatly reduced:

• Only allow one child on the trampoline at a time.
  Medical experts estimate that more than half the injuries occur when at least two people are on the trampoline at the same time. Enforcing a one-at-a-time rule will greatly reduce the chances of a collision.

  It will also reduce the risk of fracture, which can happen when one child is going down while another is going up. The child on his way down runs the risk of jamming his knee because the trampoline is going in the opposite direction.

• Make sure your child knows how to land correctly. This means bending the knees as the feet hit the trampoline, as opposed to keeping the legs outstretched and locked.
• Always have adult supervision when children are playing on a trampoline.
• Don't allow stunts on the trampoline.
• Make sure the trampoline has shock-absorbing padding that completely covers the springs, hooks and frame. If the trampoline isn't padded, a child can easily bang and hurt her head or another part of the body on an unforgiving surface.
• Add a safety net.
• Make sure the trampoline is on a level surface.
• Put shock-absorbent material on the ground around the perimeter of the trampoline. Also, make sure the ground underneath the trampoline and around it is clear of rocks and other hard debris. The ground should be sand or another soft substance, in case a child falls off.
• Position the trampoline in a central, open area, not in a corner near a fence. This way, if a child falls off, he will have a better chance of escaping injury.
• Do not use a ladder with the trampoline, advises the Consumer Product Safety Commission. Small children can get easy access to the equipment when there's no adult around. No child under the age of six should use a regular-size trampoline.
• Don't allow night-time jumping. It's even easier to get hurt when you can't see what you're doing. – (HealthScout)

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