Citation

Beno S, Ackery A, Colaco K, Boutis K. Acad. Pediatr. 2018; 18(2): 166-171.

Affiliation

Division of Emergency Medicine, Department of Pediatrics, the Hospital for Sick Children, and University of Toronto. Electronic address: kathy.boutis@sickkids.ca.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2018, Academic Pediatric Association, Publisher Elsevier Publishing)

DOI

10.1016/j.acap.2017.03.015

PMID

28414102

Abstract

OBJECTIVES: Recreational trampoline use is increasing in popularity, with a resulting increase in significant trampoline-related injuries in children. Parents are the best advocates for the safety of their children during recreational trampoline use. Our primary objective was to determine the proportion of parents who were aware of five key recommendations for safer recreational trampoline use in children.

METHODS: This was a cross-sectional survey of parents whose children presented to a tertiary care pediatric emergency department (ED) with an extremity injury. Survey questions were derived and validated using expert opinion, available literature, and pre and pilot testing of questions on the target audience.

RESULTS: Of the 1415 enrolled parents, 654 (46.2%) had regular access to a trampoline and 125 (8.8%) of their children had a history of trampoline injury. A total of 116 (8.2%; 95% CI 6.8 to 9.6) parents were aware of all five key safety recommendations for home trampoline use. Specifically, the proportion of parents who reported knowledge of the requirement for active supervision, regularly inspected safety equipment, avoiding stunts, multiple jumpers and use by children 6 years of age and older was 89.0%, 77.2%, 44.3%, 41.6%, and 18.3%, respectively.

CONCLUSIONS: Trampoline safety knowledge of the five key recommendations amongst parents was low, specifically with respect to recommended age, number of jumpers, and stunts. Since it is unlikely that use of recreational trampolines will decrease, a harm reduction approach that includes a public knowledge translation strategy of recommendations for safer home use of trampolines is necessary.

Copyright © 2017. Published by Elsevier Inc.

Language: en

Keywords

Awareness; Injury; Parental; Prevention; Safety; Trampoline