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Dangerous Trampolines
Trampolines are dangerous, a senior bone surgeon has warned.
09:29 20 December 2016
Dr Amir Ali Qureshi, a senior bone surgeon from the University Hospital Southampton NHS Foundation Trust said that trampoline should be used only under professional supervision to avoid life-changing injuries.
Meanwhile, the Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents (RoSPA) has confirmed that trampolining leads to more than 13,000 injuries each year. These include broken arms, legs, knee dislocations and neck injuries.
Dave Walker, the leisure safety manager at RoSPA, said: "When using a trampoline at home parents must be aware that, just like any high-energy leisure activity, there is a risk, and they should take precautions to prevent potentially serious and life-changing injuries.
"Having netting around the trampoline is a good preventative measure, as is only allowing one child on at a time, and supervision to ensure the activity being carried out on the trampoline is appropriate.
"Many serious injuries occur when a larger person is on with a child, so parents should avoid getting on at the same time as their children."
Mr Qureshi added: "Some of these injuries are simply unpleasant, but others can be extremely serious.
"The issue at the moment, particularly where young people are involved, is that the use of nets gives children and their parents a false sense of security that they will be fine whatever the level and intensity of activity on a trampoline.
"In my opinion, as an experienced orthopaedic surgeon, the equipment is dangerous and should only be used in appropriate circumstances, which I believe can only be achieved under professional supervision."