TRAMPOLINES!!! any advice, anyone had accidents etc, etc

[Octopussy]

Kids are very keen on the latest craze for the giant trampoline. I am too but am also wary of the obvious (accidents etc, etc). Am I a bad parent if I say I really cannot stay outside and watch them all the time (maybe on MN just for a change?!?!?!). Anyone who has experience can they give me some guidelines perhaps they lay down for their family. (ie only 18 children on at once (joke). If you have had one for more than a year and NO accidents please, please respond! I want to hear from you!!
Thanks look forward to all the responses

Mine have one, but I didn't want a big one that is high off the ground.

So I found one that is 6ft across, big enough for 1 child and less than 1ft off the ground for £99.

I know they could still break something if they fell off awkwardly, but as DS is currently at the top of the apple tree, the trampoline is probably less dangerous than hiw normal activiites.

They both play on it a lot and do things like set up assult courses round the garden eg. down the slide across the trampoline, through a tunnel etc.

A trampoline coach was on tv the other day talking about this and he said to minimise dangers no somersaults and definitely only 1 child at a time (these being the main 2 reasons why accidents happen).
Only got one big enough for 1 child anyway but so far no major accidents.

we have an 8 footer - we stick strictly to the no somersaults and 1 child at a time rules.

ds's are 5 and 3

bought it last summer, so far so good

Best bit of advice is Dig it in..
We have had ours for two years with no accidents, I know of 5 others that are dug in, all 14 or 10 foot round ones, no problems.
The only accidents I have heard about is where the trampoline has not been dug in and falls onto the ground or onto the ladder/chair or whatevers used to mount the trampoline have taken place.
Ours often has 3 or more children on it.

had one for a while and touch wood no accidents yet!
my kids are only 7 and 3 though so only go on it when we are outside with them and they take it in turns the eldest has tramplining lessons though so knows about safety and will stop to tell his brother off if he tries to get on it at the same time.

Anteater Thanks for your advice. When you say 'dig it in' can you explain exactly what you did. A friend of mine's husband dug a huge whole basically and so the tramploine is the same height as the grass almost. Her husband is a doctor and has seen lots of dislocated shoulders etc, etc. However, we don't really want to dig the garden up at this point as prob. selling house at end of summer.

Anteater Thanks for your advice. When you say 'dig it in' can you explain exactly what you did. A friend of mine's husband dug a huge whole basically and so the tramploine is the same height as the grass almost. Her husband is a doctor and has seen lots of dislocated shoulders etc, etc. However, we don't really want to dig the garden up at this point as prob. selling house at end of summer.

My brother bought one and my sis (only 9 at time) broke her nose on it... Don't know how big it is but it's now been dismantled awaiting welding of a broken leg.

my neighbours child, 3 1/2, broke her ankle 3 wks ago on one in her neighbours garden,

...hmm when I said no problems 10 mins ago, I then heard scremas from the garden.... DS 1 had got DS2 to lie starfish style on it, while he jumped between legs, arms etc. Screams were because he had jumped on little ones hand.

Buy the safety cage/net - more dosh but worth it IMO

santa brought dd 6.5 yrs a 13ft one for xmas..
broke her ankle on it 2 weeks ago, didnt fall off it or anything, was just jumping up and down and landed awkwardly on it.. having said that, she broke same ankle last year skipping with skippin rope.. as they say, accidents happen and i wont be gettin rid of the trampoline or anything.. cant wrap them up in cotton wool

Anteater HOW Do you dig it in? I've got a 10-footer and I reckon I'd have to shift about 5 tonnes of soil. Don't you hit bedrock? I'm thinking of hiring a small JCB digger...??

apologies for hi-jacking thread, but advice sought about re-stringing a small trampoline - if I get hold of some cord, how do I tie the knots? Anybody know of web pages with step-by-step diagrams for tying safe knots?

I asked this on a prev digging in thread and didnt get answered so..... if you dig a big hole, on clay soil, how do you stop it filling with water.Anyone?
We have a 14ft one, have had it about 18mths. No accidents yet but I am always a bit paranoid. I do let 2 or 3 same size on at once (6-8ish) as they tend to play more than bounce, but dont let older brother on at same time or 2 older children.
I do feel I have to watch them on it though (though really wouldnt stop an accident anyway I suppose!)

Dear M and others. Thanks for your contributions. I would value advice on digging it in. Perhaps we should start a DIGGING thread! I should add before someone rings Social Services that my kids are 10, 7 and 5 so it is not as though I am letting very small kids on it unsupervised,. Also, I tend to watch friends kids prob. better than my own (don't we all????). Like you quite rightly said M, watching them jump in the air and then land say awkwardly is not actually going to stop the accidents. I guess the only one child rule would be the most sensible one but no doubt my kids would add that where is the fun in that!

OK, anybody who want instructions on digging in and photos just CAT me with your email.

Miggy, of the 6 that have been dug in none have have had a problem with flooding.. thats not to say it can not happen tho! A couple have a few inches of standing water after heavy rain ( we live in the Lake District!) but this soon goes and does not hamper the trampoline.. Why not dig a little hole, fill it with water and see what happens if you are concerned.. If the water is still there the next day you may have a problem.