Trampolines have sprung up to be the leading cause of injuries for children in the past week alone.

NSW Ambulance figures show that paramedics have responded to 12 trampoline-related triple-zero calls across the state since the school break started last Saturday, more than vehicle and bike-related injuries combined.

Patients aged two to 18 have been hurt on trampolines, jumping castles and beds with injuries ranging from a hurt knee to compound leg fractures, dislocated elbows and broken arms.

Separate figures released in March revealed the state ambulance service responded to almost 1800 trampoline-related injuries between 2014 and 2016. Nearly 900 were children aged under 10.

NSW Ambulance Inspector John Brotherhood on Thursday said parents should be vigilant when their children played on trampolines.

“Many children are injured while jumping with others – the more children on board, the more likely one will fall on another,” he said in a statement.

“Also, don’t put a trampoline near a fence or other structure or use it as a springboard into a pool.”

Queensland Ambulance Service revealed in the past it had been called 66 times to the Air Factory Trampoline Park on the Gold Coast in just over a year.

Last year, 74 children were admitted to the RCH in Melbourne with trampoline injuries.

Just two days after Christmas, Kaylah Exard, 4, was playing with her sisters on their new enclosed trampoline, when she fell — most likely when turning around to zip up the net door — and landed head first on the concrete.

The damage under the skull was so great, the neurosurgeon assumed the unresponsive girl on the operating table before her had been catapulted from a car during a high-speed crash. Read more on this story here.

Paediatrician Anthea Rhodes says trampolines can be fun and safe when used properly.

“But allowing multiple children on a trampoline has been compared to cage fighting by our trauma service at the Royal Children’s Hospital,” she said in a statement via news.com.au.

Kidsafe recommends
•The area around and underneath the trampoline should be clear from obstacles such as concrete, bikes, tools, rocks, overhanging trees, electrical wires, walls or other structures.
•Never use the trampoline on concrete or pavers because the user could be severely injured from landing heavily on a hard surface.
•Surround the trampoline with impact absorbing material such as bark or mulch tested to AS/NZS4422 Playground Surfacing.
•Only one user on the trampoline at a time.
•Supervise children using the trampoline at all times.
•AS 4989 states that trampolines are not recommended for children under six years of age.
•Show your child the correct use of the trampoline by teaching safe usage practices.

Do you have strict rules for the kids when using any backyard play equipment?

Share your comments below.

Read more:

• Safety warning to parents over these play centres
• Popular backyard play activity compared to cage fighting

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