BEAT THE BAD BOUNCE

 

- Vhi SwiftCare Clinics warn against dangers posed by trampolines and bouncy castles

27th May, 2015 –  With Summer just around the corner, the Vhi SwiftCare Clinics are warning parents about the potential dangers posed by trampolines and bouncy castles.  May 2014 saw the Vhi SwiftCare Clinics treat 63 “bounce” related breaks and sprains, 60% of which occurred during trampolining and 40% of which occurred on a bouncy castle.  Over 200 bounce-related injuries were treated in the Vhi SwiftCare Clinics throughout Summer of last year.

38% of the bounce injuries occurred in patients under the age of 10 and 57% were in those aged 11 to 21.  The youngest injured bouncer treated in the Vhi SwiftCare Clinics was 32 months old while the oldest was 53 years of age.  Girls were slightly more likely to injure themselves than boys (54% vs 46%) and over two-thirds of the bad bounces resulted in a break rather than a sprain (69% vs 31%). Overall, lower limbs such as legs, ankles and feet were much more likely to be injured, accounting for 57% of the bounce-related injuries treated in May 2014.

Commenting on the findings Dr Brian Gaffney, Medical Director, Vhi SwiftCare Clinics said “May is typically when we start to see injuries of this kind and in fact in the first two weeks of the month, we have treated approximately 23 bounce-related injuries in the Vhi SwiftCare Clinics - hence we are highlighting the dangers such activities pose.  While the weather tends to be warmer in May, it can also be showery which can make trampolines and bouncy castles particularly slippy and dangerous.  We are calling on parents to take a number of straight-forward precautions with a view to minimising the chance of their child incurring a nasty break or sprain.”

 

Dr Gaffney suggested taking the following steps:

  • Prevention is better than cure - always have a responsible adult supervising this type of activity as most accidents take place in that split second when backs are turned and attention is elsewhere.
  • Ideally only one child should be on a trampoline or bouncy castle where possible. If this isn’t the case then ensure that the children are the same age and size and aren’t wearing any shoes or sharp items (such as belts etc).
  • Do not allow anyone – adult or child – to attempt somersaults or flips on a trampoline or bouncy castle.  This is extremely dangerous and could lead to spinal injuries, concussion or a host of serious injuries.
  • Inspect the netting around trampolines to make sure there aren’t any gaps or tears and make sure bouncy castles are correctly anchored before use.
  • If it has been raining, make sure that surfaces are dried off thoroughly – bouncing on slippery surfaces is a recipe for disaster.
  • Position bouncy castles and trampolines on grass, well away from hard surfaces or protruding items.
  • If adults decide to try their bouncing skills insist on one person at a time and ensure no alcohol has been consumed.  While most of the accidents we see are in children, last year, 3% of the bounce related injuries treated in the Vhi SwiftCare Clinics were in those aged over 21. 

 

Dr Gaffney concluded by advising that “If the worst happens and someone is injured, take the following steps”:

  • Stay calm and don’t rush to stand up or to get the person to stand up.
  • If someone cannot feel their arms / legs, has hit their head or lost consciousness call an ambulance immediately.
  • If you have a severely broken bone i.e. a bone has broken through your skin you should go straight to your nearest Accident & Emergency Department.
  • If you suspect you have a broken bone or a sprain then you can either visit your local urgent care centre or your local Accident & Emergency Unit.
  • In all instances where you suspect a sprain, strain or break you should remember to PRICE: P = protect, R = rest, I = ice, C = compress, E = elevate.

Vhi Swiftcare Clinics are Ireland’s first walk-in, urgent care clinics, providing rapid assessment, treatment and advice for patients with a range of minor injuries and illnesses.   Information on the Vhi SwiftCare Clinics is available on www.vhi.ie/swiftcare.  This website also features a clock displaying real-time information on the waiting times for initial assessments in each of the clinics which means that even the busiest patient can choose the time they visit the Vhi SwiftCare Clinics and can minimise the disruption to their weekend.  

 

ENDS

 

Note to Editors

Vhi Swiftcare Clinics are Ireland’s first walk-in, urgent care clinics, providing rapid assessment, treatment and advice for patients with a range of minor injuries and illnesses.   Conditions that can be treated in the Vhi SwiftCare Clinics include: potential breaks, sprains, bumps and bruises, minor burns or cuts that may need a stitch. 

The Vhi SwiftCare Clinics do not treat serious medical conditions such as difficulty in breathing, severe chest pain, loss of consciousness and severe burns. The Clinics do not treat children less than 12 months of age or pregnancy-related conditions. The Clinics can be visited by all members of the public, not just Vhi Healthcare members, and are open 365 days a year from 8am to 10pm. 

The Vhi SwiftCare Clinics can be contacted on 1890 866 966.  Further information on the Vhi SwiftCare Clinics is available on www.vhi.ie/swiftcare

Issued by:

 

Brighid Smyth / Barbara Coyle                                  

Vhi Healthcare                                                           

Ph: 01 6147348 / 01 6197473                        

M: 086 8270905 / 086 8371701                                             

E:brighid.smyth@vhi.ie / barbara.coyle@vhi.ie

Vhi_Press

27-May-2015