Friday, May 22, 2009

What You Need to Know About Trampolenes

Recently, my brother and sister-in-law let my 10-year-old niece have a trampolene. It was against their better judgment, but it had side netting all the way around so they thought she would be safe. Besides, Nicole is an athlete - playing either soccer or basketball every week.

What they didn't know is that there was an 8-inch gap between the netting and the edge of the trampolene that was covered with nothing more than a leather flap. One day, Nicole went to get off the trampolene and her foot went through the flap. She fell through the netting and broke both her arms.

Of course, my sister-in-law was furious at the safety that was promised and not provided. She called the manufacturer, who literally told her to go "f" herself. Can you believe that? She then called Wal-Mart where they had purchased the trampolene. Wal-Mart came out, disassembled the trampolene, took it back and gave them a full credit. Wal-Mart is also in talks with the manufacturer about possibly covering the additional expenses - medical expenses, new clothes she could easily slip on, a home tutor for several weeks, etc. Leave it to Wal-Mart to have this kind of clout with the manufacturer.

A trampolene can be a fun toy that also provides much needed exercise and gets kids away from the gaming console and out of the house. But be sure to check it carefully for safety features. Check the connection between the netting and the edge of the trampolene to ensure there is no risk of falling through. And talk with your friends about their experiences.

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