'I'm an ER Doctor—Here's the One Activity I Would Never, Ever Let My Kids Do'

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'I'm an ER Doctor—Here's the One Activity I Would Never, Ever Let My Kids Do' originally appeared on Parade.

When you're a parent, your child’s happiness is everything to you. You wish you could give your kids everything they want—and have the most fun in the world—but you also want to keep them safe. Unfortunately, during the warm, school-free summer months, there's more potential for kids to be injured during playtime.According to Johns Hopkins Medicine, kids’ injuries are more common during summer due to more free time and outdoor activities. Certainly, part of the joy of summer as a kid is the many hours spent playing outside or in the pool, diving onto Slip N Slides, jumping off of diving boards and chasing fireflies. It's a blast, and it creates so many wonderful memories for us to look back on when we're older.With that in mind, there’s one very specific, very popular outdoor activity ER doctors and pediatricians warn against. Are you kids or grandkids doing it? Read on to find out.🩺SIGN UP for tips to stay healthy & fit with the top moves, clean eats, health trends & more delivered right to your inbox twice a week💊

The Recreational Activity for Kids Doctors Warn Against

We talked to ER physicians and pediatricians, and they are in agreement that trampolines are dangerous for kids of all ages, and they warn against them. “According to the American Academy of Pediatrics, trampolines are associated with over 100,000 injuries each year in the U.S. alone,” says Dr. Alicia Bazzano, MD, MPH, an emergency room doctor with MedStar Health.Related: 3 Things That Happen to Your Body When You Don't Eat Enough FiberDr. Somya Dunn, MD, a pediatrician with MedStar Health, agrees. “Trampolines are a classic backyard fixture—and also a classic cause of emergency room visits. We wouldn’t call trampolines safe, especially without close supervision and some structure. They combine height, velocity and unpredictable landings, which is a dangerous trio for a growing body,” she says.Dr. Christopher Gaw, MD, MPH, MBE, an emergency room doctor with Nationwide Children’s, says that he’s seen his fair share of trampoline-related injuries. “We have good data from several studies that describe how trampolines can be dangerous to children. Between 2009 and 2018, there were over 800,000 trampoline-related injuries involving children across the US,” he explains, adding that injuries can occur even with safety nets, padding and adult supervision.Because of the high number of injuries caused by trampolines, Dr. Gaw says that the American Academy of Pediatrics strongly warns against recreational trampoline use for kids of all ages. “This recommendation covers both home trampolines as well as sport or commercial trampoline parks,” he adds.

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Deanna Lynn Bridge Najera, PA-C, a physician’s assistant with MedStar Health, says that some of the injuries that can occur from trampoline use are minor, such as abrasions from sliding across the material or cuts from the spring or frame. But other types of injuries are more serious.

“Fractures can happen from landing awkwardly, falling off the trampoline and even from becoming tangled in safety netting. Head injuries from colliding with other people or falling can result in concussions or other brain trauma. Even more dangerous are neck injuries, both the spinal cord and the arteries of the neck can be affected from landing or whiplash-type movements,” Najera says.Related: This Surprising Daily Habit Could Add Years to Your Life

Dr. Bazzano and Dr. Dunn say that the most common trampoline injuries are head and neck injuries, dislocations, dental trauma and concussions.Dr. Joshua R. Resa, MD, a pediatrician with Hoag Medical Group, adds to this, saying that trampolines are one of the leading causes of accidental injury in the home environment and can lead to sprain, fracture, dislocation or head injury.He explains that the type of trampolines causing the aforementioned injuries are different from trampolines used for gymnastics, diving or figure skating training, which are likely safer than ones often found in people’s backyards. “On the other hand, public recreational trampoline parks include larger, bouncier surfaces, with many jumpers using the mats at the same time. This results in more collisions, higher jumps and harder landings,” he adds.

Tips for Safe Trampoline Use

If you want to allow your child to jump on a trampoline, there are ways to minimize the risk of injury. All of the doctors say to limit use to one child at a time. “More than three-quarters of injuries occur when multiple children are jumping at the same time,” Dr. Resa explains.All of the doctors also recommend using a safety net enclosure and making sure it’s installed properly. They also warn against doing somersaults or flips. “This is a major cause of spinal injuries.” Dr. Bazzano says.

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Related: I Tried the All-New Oura Ring—Here's My Honest ReviewWhen using the trampoline, Najera says that all the jumping should occur on the trampoline; it shouldn’t be used to jump off of, onto the ground or into a pool. Along those lines, Dr. Gaw says that kids should not jump off of other objects (like a roof) onto a trampoline.They also recommend adult supervision anytime a child of any age is using a trampoline.“If taking your child to a trampoline park, the jumping surfaces may be designed differently than backyard trampolines,” Dr. Gaw says. He recommends kids test out a surface before trying any big jumps. “Since trampoline parks often allow multiple jumpers at a time, families should try to avoid peak hours at trampoline parks to reduce the risk of collision-related injuries,” he adds.If you are going to let your child jump on a trampoline, it’s important to know the risks. “Trampolines aren’t evil, but they’re not harmless either,” Dr. Dunn says. “As with all recreational activities, parents should weigh the pros and cons, know the statistics and make an informed choice,” she says. And as with any recreational activity with a high risk for injury, adult supervision is a must.

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Sources

Dr. Alicia Bazzano, MD, MPH, emergency room doctor with MedStar Health

Dr. Somya Dunn, MD, pediatrician with MedStar Health

Dr. Christopher Gaw, MD, MPH, MBE, emergency room doctor with Nationwide Children’s

Dr. Joshua R. Resa, MD, pediatrician at Hoag Medical Group

Deanna Lynn Bridge Najera, PA-C, physician’s assistant with MedStar Health

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'I'm an ER Doctor—Here's the One Activity I Would Never, Ever Let My Kids Do' first appeared on Parade on Jul 20, 2025

This story was originally reported by Parade on Jul 20, 2025, where it first appeared.