Risk is like a trampoline: Part 2

Risk = Hazard x Probability of the hazard happening.  The higher the hazard (bad thing) and the higher the chance of that bad thing happening, the greater the risk.  Trampolines are good way to illustrate this because the hazard is real and known.

So there you are, confronted by your kids wanting a trampoline to play on in their backyard.

The easiest way out is to choose the NIMBY response and put an end to the discussion.  What's NIMBY you may be wondering?

Not In My Back Yard!

Easy!  Only you underestimate the tenacity of your children and their desire to have a trampoline in their backyard.  The more you shout NIMBY the more they dig their heals in as well.  However, as easy as NIMBY is to end the discussion and prevent the risk, there are other risks that come into play.

It would be nice if the world was black and white, but it's not.  So if you NIMBY, the kids point out, you will also deprive them of: the benefits that come into play as well as the risks.  The kids point out to you, but dad....trampolines are good for our health!:

• Bouncing on a trampoline will help your children to a brighter athletic future!
• Recreation, entertainment and fitness right at home.
• Trampolining can influence child’s academic success.
• One of the most important benefits of the trampoline is the development of body balance.
• Another important teaching aspect of the trampoline is rhythm and bilaterally.
• Trampolining is good for children who are reluctant to begin physical activities.
• Increases Lymphatic Circulation
• Increased Bone Density

And if all of those great reasons are not enough, here is my favorite (and I'm not making this up):

• Bouncing or Jumping on a trampoline is a Cellular Exercise

You see, according to Sundance Trampolines, "your body has about 60 trillion cells. The 2 to 4 G forces (gravitational pull) involved in bouncing squeezes out toxins" just like this:

Cell being squeezed by jumping on a trampoline  forcing out bad stuff

"Then, during the brief weightless period when the body is suspended in the air, the lower pressure in the cell promotes the movement of nutrients into the cells." 

Cell in 'fluffy' state able to take in good stuff

"Thus the flow of materials to and from cells is improved. It is like getting every cell in your body to exercise."

OK, so that last bullet convinced you, didn't it?  C'mon admit it, you are now a little more receptive to the idea, I mean look at the benefits!  But there is still risk if you say "yes".  In fact your Google search shows that pretty succinctly:

531,378 trampoline-related injuries over the study period, an average of 88,563 each year. Further, 95 percent of those injuries occurred on home trampolines.  The most common injuries were soft tissue (256,509), while fractures and dislocations were the next (168,402). The age group with the most injuries was those in the 5-12 year range. The vast majority of the injuries were to the extremities, representing 71 percent of all injuries.

Still, the benefit of exercise plus fact that thing about their cells and toxins and stuff.....well you feel your resolve weakening. "No, you can't have a trampoline," you tell them, "unless you can make it so that there will be little chance for fracture and dislocation injuries."

"Ahhh, but that will take all the fun out of it!" the kids yell.  "No trampoline then!" you boldly state.

Now the kids are no dummies, they've done their homework on this subject and present to you two trampolines that will meet this requirement.

This version uses protective measures to minimize the chance of falling off the sides.  The hazard is minimized through engineering controls.

This version minimizes the damage from falling off by having the impact change from "onto the ground" to "onto the water."  The hazard is minimized through where the activity is to be located..




"Great idea kids," you say.  "But the homeowners association will not allow that protection net to stick up over the fence line.  And that other one requires water, not to mention the possibility of instead of breaking an arm, you drown!"

"Jeepers Dad!" the kids whine, which touches your heart.  "OK," you relent, "you can have a regular trampoline, but you must follow these rules:"

Adult supervision.....

...only one person on the trampoline at a time.  This is what we would refer to as administrative controls.






So there you have it.  The same potential risk handled in different ways.  In all except the NIMBY situation, the activity is allowed to proceed under certain conditions.  The risk is still there, only minimized to a level of acceptance.

Given any situation, understanding the true risk and real benefit will help you make an objective determination as to whether it is worth taking on that risk.  NIMBY stops activities that have real benefits and blind acceptance without any controls increases that risk.  There is a middle ground, and that's where we need to focus our attention on.

"There were 1.2 million new trampoline sales in 2004, indicating that parents continue to purchase this as a form of fun and exercise for children." (1)

They can't all be wrong or right on this activity.

And that's how risk is like a trampoline.






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