Indoor Trampoline Party Safety

[acmom]

DD was invited to a birthday party at an indoor trampoline place that recently opened in town (SkyZone). DH is strongly against backyard trampolines due to all sorts of injuries he used to see in the peds ER when he was a resident. He is ok with the bounce house places as well as the little mini trampolines (like the ones that are round with a handlebar, mostly used indoors). I am guessing this is the first of many bday parties that will be there as the kids get older and this place gets more popular.

If you have a trampoline place like this in town, how do parties there work? How is the safety compared to a backyard trampoline? I do know that there were several ER trips from this place for broken bones the first week it opened, but haven't heard anything since.

[hillview]

Honestly I hate them. I have rsvp'ed a few times NO for these parties. But also sometimes let the kids go. I hate them. I don't think they are safe -- the kids of course love them.

[Kindra178]

I am generally against backyard tramps. Many people (usually bigger kids) attempt stunts, flip off and break their necks. That can't happen at Jumpzone.

[SnuggleBuggles]

I am generally against backyard tramps. Many people (usually bigger kids) attempt stunts, flip off and break their necks. That can't happen at Jumpzone.

It does at Skyzone. Plenty of flipping and such.

OP- I was reluctant to go because I feel like the trampoline parks are accidents waiting to happen but I eventually relented and we had so much fun! The staff is great and on the ball, at least at ours. Ds2 took a weird landing and got swarmed with first aid.

[khm]

DD was invited to a birthday party at an indoor trampoline place that recently opened in town (SkyZone). DH is strongly against backyard trampolines due to all sorts of injuries he used to see in the peds ER when he was a resident. He is ok with the bounce house places as well as the little mini trampolines (like the ones that are round with a handlebar, mostly used indoors). I am guessing this is the first of many bday parties that will be there as the kids get older and this place gets more popular.

If you have a trampoline place like this in town, how do parties there work? How is the safety compared to a backyard trampoline? I do know that there were several ER trips from this place for broken bones the first week it opened, but haven't heard anything since.

We have a SkyZone. It is a hotbed of injuries, unfortunately. I've known several people injured there - broken arm (kid), sprained wrist (kid), injured back (adult), sprained knee (adult), sprained ankle (one kid / one adult)..... I'm sure there's more that I know peripherally, but those are the people close to me that I've seen first hand vs. "heard about".

The ER keeps a "SkyZone tally", or at least they used to. (A friend has a friend who is a doc there. And, that doc strongly recommend Friend not allow her kids to go.)

That said, my kids to go on occasion (other kids' parties mainly) and haven't been hurt. But, I'm always holding my breath and a bit nervous! I've never hosted a party there because I'd hate to have it be my kids' party where someone got hurt, I'd be a wreck counting down the minutes 'til it was over!

I'm not a fan and wouldn't be sad if it closed. I'm kind of surprised they haven't closed or been closed, frankly. But, they are apparently opening in new markets all the time!

The doc told Friend that a lot of the injuries are due to the slanted wall portion? Not sure. Somehow it is just tricky and you can easily land funny.

[acmom]

Thanks all - another question, since I haven't seen any of these places first hand. Are the kids crashing into each other and can get hurt that way? Or is it mainly getting hurt if they are trying crazy stuff? DD isn't particularly athletic and also isn't much of a risk taker.

[Kindra178]

It does at Skyzone. Plenty of flipping and such.

OP- I was reluctant to go because I feel like the trampoline parks are accidents waiting to happen but I eventually relented and we had so much fun! The staff is great and on the ball, at least at ours. Ds2 took a weird landing and got swarmed with first aid.

At the two different tramp places I have been to, you cannot flip off by accident and land on your head. As to broken bones, well, that can happen doing any number of things, including walking down the street.

[hillview]

Thanks all - another question, since I haven't seen any of these places first hand. Are the kids crashing into each other and can get hurt that way? Or is it mainly getting hurt if they are trying crazy stuff? DD isn't particularly athletic and also isn't much of a risk taker.
so kids at most of these places are supposed to be one kid to a tramp, that said some kids don't pay attention. My kids KNOW this is a sure fire way to get pulled out of the park and go home. Kids are allowed at skyzone and at Launch to do flips. My kids are not. That said even following ALL the rules kids can get hurt.

[SnuggleBuggles]

One person per trampoline is strictly enforce at our place. There are a few games like dodgeball that gets a little crazy here but the regular trampoline part is very organized and supervised. In the dodgeball game The kids aren't flipping but they may occasionally run into each other.

[khm]

Thanks all - another question, since I haven't seen any of these places first hand. Are the kids crashing into each other and can get hurt that way? Or is it mainly getting hurt if they are trying crazy stuff? DD isn't particularly athletic and also isn't much of a risk taker.

There are separate trampolines, with padded seams between them. There is a lot of landing on these seams in a bad way. Each jumper gets their own space, and they do not allow multiple kids in one square.

The angled walls get a lot of blame, apparently your brain and your body just don't agree and there are a lot of weird landings where legs or arms get hurt.

At ours, I do not see anyone crashing into each other, so that is not the problem. They really do a good job of keeping everyone on their own space.

The people I talked to really just said they landed wrong on the actual trampoline part. It wasn't anything dangerous-sounding or risky. Just landed wrong. The adult back injury did land on the seam part, but the others did not.

[TwinFoxes]

We have a different one called Flight. Definitely not one kid per trampoline, the trampolines are quite big, maybe 10x12, and there are probably 20 in the main jump zone. I don't think they're especially safe TBH. But, the older kids are more likely in the dodge ball section, or the slam dunk sections, than just bouncing. My girls are small, but they've never been knocked into.

[sunnyside]

I was a professionally trained circus artist and can assure you that trampolines are incredibly dangerous even when in a park like this and even following all the rules. You can break your neck even if you don't flip off the trampoline and land on the ground.

[vonfirmath]

DD was invited to a birthday party at an indoor trampoline place that recently opened in town (SkyZone). DH is strongly against backyard trampolines due to all sorts of injuries he used to see in the peds ER when he was a resident. He is ok with the bounce house places as well as the little mini trampolines (like the ones that are round with a handlebar, mostly used indoors). I am guessing this is the first of many bday parties that will be there as the kids get older and this place gets more popular.

If you have a trampoline place like this in town, how do parties there work? How is the safety compared to a backyard trampoline? I do know that there were several ER trips from this place for broken bones the first week it opened, but haven't heard anything since.

A friend of ours daughter broke her leg just bouncing at one of them. She was 2 or 3. Just barely bouncing with her dad, not doing anything crazy and just landed wrong. Its just one of those things. I try to avoid them as much as possible -- and accept the risk for the rest

[JBaxter]

We go its like anything else yes there is risk but the kids have fun. Tuesdays is half price night in the summer so we go 2 or 3x a month. There are 2 in our area both have the big foam blocks you jump in yes they flip yes they play dodge ball. Im sure they could get hurt but they can also get hurt on the scooters, bikes skate boards trees they climb sports they play. I'm thinking of taking the bounce aerobics myself.

[div_0305]

Kids love these places. I've sent DS, but I probably should say no next time. The waiver of liability at our jump place is off the charts!

[lovin2shop]

I worry quite a bit when my kids go to these places, but there are so few other options for indoor physical activity during long periods of bad weather. And to some degree, all physical activity has risks. I also worry a lot when my little plays soccer, he's a goalie and I know of a number of ways that he can be hurt. But, inactivity has its risks too.

I'm totally out on outdoor trampolines though, and would never consider one for our home.

[Mikey0709]

Here's my latest experience:

We just had cub scouts there a few weeks ago. 5 minutes before ending time, a FATHER decided to get in a dunk on the trampoline basketball court. one bounce is all it took. he went up in the air and heard his knee crack. This is someone in EXCELLENT shape - - originally had a ski trip planned FOR THE NEXT DAY. He fell and just laid their screaming in pain. My husband and another guy helped him out - cause employees said they aren't allowed to TOUCH any injured person. They then escorted my husband to a ROOM full of wheelchairs! Told him to pick one to help his friend out. They said the local urgent care actually now stays open until Skyzone is closed. After filling out the accident report - they were told they could use the wheelchair out to the parking lot. He ended up in knee surgery less than a week later.

I was already weary going into this place - because our last birthday party there where we were guests had at least 3 calls for ice packs. I was one of the moms who stayed and i ended up applying ice to crying kids the whole time. Just too much unnecessary risk for my tolerance.

[twowhat?]

I can absolutely imagine injuries at these places. I let my kids go and watch them like a hawk but I HATE IT. I hate it when we get birthday invites to places like these!! Bounce house places included...I've seen kids get stuck between inflatables, cut themselves on a vinyl seam or edge, etc. I've cut my own thumb at a bounce house place! and the bounce house places are dark and noisy so if someone gets stuck somewhere, you won't know until you realized "hey, I haven't seen XXX in a while...". So I watch my kids like a hawk at these places too...if they go into an inflatable and don't come out on the other side in a few minutes, I go in looking for them.

The trampoline places - yes, if you're strong enough to jump up high and flip, you are strong enough to injure yourself, YES. Crashing into each other - I see this too!!

[essnce629]

I have no problem with them and we've been to about 5 parties at SkyZone/Sky High Sports. DS2 wants to have his 6th birthday party there. I much prefer it to the indoor bounce house place that every kindergartner has had their party at this year! That place is claustrophobic with no windows and the rooms are small and then you're in the complete dark for a large portion!

[cagey]

We've been to the Skyzone by us about 6-7 times, once for my daughter's party, and never had any problems. The staff at our local one pretty heavily enforces the one-person-per-trampoline rule along with the no flipping rule. When its crowded, they will whistle at the people doing the bounce from one pad to another that would cause the collisions.

So...for us, I like them (actually, I personally love them and love bouncing with them!), would continue to go, but remind my kids to act responsibly.

[HannaAddict]

People here really won't go to them. The main one is actually closed and being sued for horrific injuries in at least six cases, they did a big exposé on the news and none of the injured were doing anything wrong. They are dangerous. We went to one in first or second grade and a parent broke their leg! We declined other parties and they have petered out and no one does them.

[wellyes]

My daughter has been a couple of times and enjoyed it. I think the younger the kids, the safer, with a mixed aged party being risky. I don't love it but I don't forbid it either.

[ray7694]

My dd broke her arm on a tramp at gymnastics class. That being said when we went to skyzone on a vacation it was very regulated. No flips and limited amount if people. I was surprised. I would let my dc go if it is monitored well

[mom_hanna]

We go its like anything else yes there is risk but the kids have fun. Tuesdays is half price night in the summer so we go 2 or 3x a month. There are 2 in our area both have the big foam blocks you jump in yes they flip yes they play dodge ball. Im sure they could get hurt but they can also get hurt on the scooters, bikes skate boards trees they climb sports they play. I'm thinking of taking the bounce aerobics myself.

This is us as well. My kids have gone to quite a few birthday parties, ds had his birthday party at one, and we go on occasion when the weather outside is awful. The kids have a blast. They have broken bones falling of playground equipment and horses, and they still go to the playground and dd still rides horses. Not much difference, IMO.

[pastrygirl]

I let my kids go to SkyZone. My 8yo has gotten hurt both times. One was an ankle injury but not quite a sprain, and the second time was a very sore back that lasted a few days. Both visits he was just jumping up and down, no craziness. He's decided he doesn't want to go anymore.

[georgiegirl]

They have broken bones falling of playground equipment and horses, and they still go to the playground and dd still rides horses. Not much difference, IMO.

Any ER doctor will tell you differently. Of course you can break a bone or get injured doing pretty much anything, but the risk is much higher at a trampoline park or on a trampoline.

That said, I will allow my kids to go there for a birthday party (generally only invite once or twice a year there), but we don't go there on our own and I will not host my kids' parties there.

[Momit]

I am generally against backyard tramps. Many people (usually bigger kids) attempt stunts, flip off and break their necks. That can't happen at Jumpzone.

I feel pretty much the same way. We had DS's last birthday party at one, when he turned 6. Ours is called SkyHigh Sports and there's a separate area for kids 6 and under. It's quiet and seems safe. We've been to other parties there and gone for free jump time - we've never seen an issue. There was one ambulance visit but funny enough it was totally unrelated to the trampolines. I understand that the dodgeball courts can be brutap so we told the kids to stay away from that area.

[TwinFoxes]

Any ER doctor will tell you differently. Of course you can break a bone or get injured doing pretty much anything, but the risk is much higher at a trampoline park or on a trampoline.



I agree with this. But, despite that, we do go to the trampoline parks occasionally, but never have been to a party (they are super expensive!) We don't do backyard trampolines though.

[mom_hanna]

Any ER doctor will tell you differently. Of course you can break a bone or get injured doing pretty much anything, but the risk is much higher at a trampoline park or on a trampoline.

Well, my brother is an ER doc, and we agree that life has risks and you can choose to live with them or live in fear of them.

[IansMom]

We have had one (Shakalaka) for less than a year here. DS is 6, so we only go during the 6 and under hour in the morning from 9 am-10 am or immediately after school for the hour before the middle and high school kids get out of school. There is a younger kid area but DS much prefers the other parts. I would be reluctant to attend a party there unless it was private (which we probably will not be invited to any time soon--it costs $600 for a private party). We are generally leaving when the older kids/adults arrive, and the entire environment of the place changes.