Safety warning on trampoline defect

A 13-FOOT trampoline sold by a leading toy chain has developed metal fatigue that could make the product dangerous.

The trampoline, which has green padding, was sold by Smyths Toys and the company is asking customers not to use the product without fitting reinforcement clamps where its four legs join the main body.

The company has placed advertisements in today’s newspapers advising customers how they can get the extra parts.

Smyth’s Toys decided to carry out safety checks on the trampoline after customers started returning the defective product to the store during the summer.

David Taylor, associate professor in materials engineering at the School of Engineering, Trinity College Dublin, examined the trampoline.

He said the fatigue cracks would be visible to the user long before they present any serious risk to the stability of the trampoline.

Prof Taylor said the modifications should eliminate any potential risk of failure due to fatigue when operated under normal use as outlined in the accompanying instruction booklet.

The spokesperson said Smyths Toys intended launching a major trampoline safety campaign in the spring.

Trampolines were the latest must-have toy this year and can be dangerous even when used correctly.

Three out of four injuries occur when more than one person is on the trampoline. Children under six years old are particularly vulnerable to injury.

While any part of the body can be injured in an accident, head and neck injuries are the most serious associated with trampolines.

The spokesperson said Smyths Toys wanted to emphasise that only one person should use the trampoline at a time and should only jump from the centre of the mat.