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PRESS RELEASE Issued on behalf of the Southern Area Accident Prevention Liaison group (SAAPLG) 8 June 2009 Jump to It The Southern Area Accident Prevention Liaison Group (SAAPLG) is urging people to be cautious when using home trampolines this summer. A survey conducted in 2008 by the Southern Health and Social Care Trust within its Accident and Emergency Departments and Minor Injury Units shows that there were 82 injuries recorded over a four week period due to trampoline accidents; 57 of these accidents were amongst children under 10 years of age. Mr Seamus O’Reilly, Consultant in Accident and Emergency at Craigavon Area Hospital says: “Most injuries occurred when people landed improperly while jumping or doing stunts on the trampoline or when they fell or jumped off. Colliding with another person, particularly someone who is taller and heavier is also another common cause of injury. Injuries range from the minor such as bruising, scrapes, cuts or strains to the more serious like broken bones, head and neck injuries and many occurred even where a safety net was present.” Dr Vinod Tohani, Consultant with the Public Health Agency and Chair of SAAPLG added: “Trampolining can be good exercise and great fun, but we stress the need for parents to supervise their children, allowing only one person to use the trampoline at a time to avoid collision. Safety enclosures or nets will prevent accidental falls from the trampoline, but other accidents can still occur. Domestic trampolines are not designed for stunts, only trained professionals should try somersaults or flips on professional trampolines. We hope that by reinforcing safety messages these injuries will be reduced.” Tips on safe trampolining include: • Always use a safety net to prevent falls off the trampoline. • Always use pads to prevent injuries on the trampoline. • Use safely and bounce on the middle of the trampoline. • Step on and off the trampoline, never jump. • Only allow one child at a time to use the trampoline. • Supervise at all times and ensure that children have rest periods. The Southern Health and Social Care Trust has developed a leaflet ‘Jump to it’ to guide parents on trampoline safety. The leaflet is available from A&E and Xray departments, minor injury units, libraries, leisure centres, health visitors and early years’ organisations. It can be downloaded from www.promotingwellbeing.info under Publications/Accident Prevention or Tel: 028 3834 4973 for a copy. There is also an online learning and an interactive game on trampolining and other home safety issues www.safehome4me.com - Ends - For press enquiries contact: Elaine Hyde, PR Assistant on Tel: 028 3741 4597 Notes to Editors: The Southern Area Accident Prevention Liaison Group was set up to help prevent injuries in the home and workplace in the Southern area of Northern Ireland. Agencies involved in SAAPLG are: • The Public Health Agency • The Southern Health and Social Care Trust • NI Fire & Rescue Service • Police Service of Northern Ireland – Crime Prevention Unit & Community Safety & Traffic Control Unit • Southern Group Environmental Health Committee • RoSPA • Sure Start South Armagh • Southern Investing for Health Partnership • Southern Education and Library Board |