Trampoline Parks Are A Growing Danger That Can Lead to Serious Injuries
Jul 20, 2011
Chicago, IL (Law Firm Newswire) July 19, 2011 – Trampoline parks are becoming a popular destination for kids and teens. Two companies are opening new facilities this summer throughout Illinois, including in Naperville, Niles, and Buffalo Grove. The parks are intended to promote fun and exercise for jumpers who bounce off the trampoline walls and floors.
Until there is an injury, trampoline parks seem like a harmless way to have fun. But as the Chicago Tribune reported in late May, one trampoline park in Carol Stream has had 16 ambulance calls for injuries ranging from head trauma and dislocated shoulders to broken arms and ankles.
Dangers abound due to jumpers accidentally hitting each other, trying somersaults, or bouncing off the trampoline’s surface. Adding to the problem, trampoline parks are not regulated by the state or any U.S. agency because they do not have a moving apparatus, unlike other types of recreation centers.
The Consumer Product Safety Commission reports that trampoline-related emergency room visits have tripled in the last 10 years, with an estimated 100,000 people being treated for injuries by ER doctors and nurses. Most victims are kids between six and 14 years old. Some groups say that free-for-all trampoline centers, even with warnings and disclaimers, are not doing enough to protect children. The American Academy of Pediatrics says that trampoline use is best in a supervised environment like a gymnastics facility where kids can be “spotted” by an adult and taught skills over time.
“What we’re seeing is that kids are using the trampolines as an extreme sport,” says Chicago personal injury attorney and SuperLawyer Paul A. Greenberg, Esq. “The problem is that there’s not awareness of just how dangerous these new facilities with wall-to-wall trampolines truly are.”
None of the injuries in Illinois have resulted in death or paralysis, but critics are quick to point out that these types of catastrophic injuries have occurred elsewhere. “In the absence of governmental monitoring of these parks, parents must trust the judgment of the management of these facilities to ensure that the trampolines are safe and are being properly maintained,” the Chicago injury lawyer continued.
For more than 20 years, the Chicago personal injury attorney and professionals at Briskman Briskman & Greenberg have represented individuals and families that have been injured due to someone else’s carelessness. To learn more, visit http://www.briskmanandbriskman.com or call 877-595-HURT (4878).
Briskman Briskman & Greenberg
351 West Hubbard Street, Ste 810
Chicago, IL 60654
Phone: 312.222.0010
