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Jumping into trouble one way or another

| September 25, 2012 9:00 PM

How far is too far? Consider the latest pediatric advice in a nutshell: No more trampolines.

Citing more than 100,000 annual emergency room visits for trampoline-related injuries, the American Academy of Pediatrics warned against them in their recently updated recommendations. The last was in 1999 and led to manufacturer safety additions. Adding padding and nets may reduce the risk by as much as half, AAP says, but despite the 13,000 or so reduction in annual injuries between 2004 and 2009, some pediatricians say nets make too little of a difference.

OK, so no jumpy-jumpy. No one wants to see hurt kids. But we have another problem: childhood obesity has tripled since 1980.

It's hard enough to compete with electronics, games, and junk food-induced semi-comas. Drawing kids outside and engaging them in physical activity gets harder all the time. The tramp is a big draw and can ironically be a safety advantage for more adventurous kids; our granddaughter is Exhibit No. 1.

When the 6-year-old wasn't on the tramp where did we find her, parental heads turned for two minutes? Up on the roof, creatively accessed from the deck; or slipped into the lake, her interpretation of "Sure, you can dip your feet." By comparison, the trampoline was practically a padded cell.

Previous generations remember well the days when every ambulatory kid was outside, each afternoon, inside only when forced. Sidewalks and neighborhoods were littered with bike riders, hopskotchers, skateboarders, and rollerskaters. Packs of little girls giggled. Boys built forts and traded baseball cards after the spontaneous two innings.

Cable TV and Nintendo changed all that. Our family takes afternoon walks around our neighborhood park in good weather. It's a great park, big enough for just about anything. It's also generally deserted, save the odd toddler on a swing.

Drawing kids outside now takes serious temptation. The trampoline draws even teenagers; there must be something about bouncing. It's not just kids. As reported in the New York Times, Yankees baseball pitcher Joba Chamberlain dislocated his ankle while bouncing on a trampoline with his son. According to the AAP, 75 percent of trampoline injuries - some very serious - occur when more than one person is jumping.

Safety is vital, but take away the trampoline and I wonder what's left to discourage youthful expanding middles and resulting health problems. Maybe Mr. Chamberlain's ankle offers a simple answer: Be strict about the one-at-a-time rule. Discourage flips and somersaults. If invention is required, will a trampoline savior please stand up?

Sholeh Patrick is a columnist for the Hagadone News Network who hates bouncing. Contact her at sholehjo@hotmail.com.