Shock number of paramedic call-outs to indoor trampoline centres in Victoria revealed

Paramedics were called out to just under 100 incidents at indoor trampoline centres across Victoria in little more than a year. See which operators recorded the most injuries.

Paramedics were called out to almost 100 incidents at indoor trampoline centres across Victoria.

Paramedics were called out to almost 100 incidents at indoor trampoline centres across Victoria in little more than a year, with visitors sustaining serious injuries including fractures and lacerations.

Data obtained exclusively by the Herald Sun under Freedom of Information laws shows 96 ambulance call-outs from January 2022 to April this year at popular Bounce Inc, Jump Central and other trampoline centres.

According to Maurice Blackburn, clients have reported shocking injuries including being confined to a wheelchair for months after experiencing serious fractures.

Bounce in Heidelberg reported the most incidents for which an ambulance was called with 23 reports, followed by Bounce in Essendon Fields which recorded 18 incidents.

Paramedics transported 67 patrons to hospital in that time.

Eight trampoline centres across Melbourne recorded 16 fractures.

There were five reports of dislocations.

Bounce in Keysborough and Glen Iris each recorded 17 ambulance call-outs.

Maurice Blackburn Lawyers special counsel Trang Van Heugten said the cases being dealt with were those where there was some type of negligence on the part of the trampoline centre operators.

The type of injuries being seen by the law firm include disclocaitons and sprains of joints such as ankles, knees, wrists, shoulders, which usually occur from landing awkwardly on the trampoline bed or colliding with another jumper.

More serious injuries include neck and spinal cord injuries, head injuries and traumatic brain injuries including concussions and skull fractures.

“A client sustained injuries when another patron jumped on the trampoline she was on, and double bounced her,” Ms Van Heugten said.

“We believe this could have been prevented had the trampoline centre provided adequate supervision.”

“The rebound on the trampoline caused her the land awkwardly and resulted in complex fractures to her leg.

“She ended up in the emergency department … She ended up being confined in a wheelchair for a few months.”

Ms Van Heugten said another client sustained injuries when he performed flips on an air mat and ended up fracturing his tibia and fibula as he landed.

“His injuries could have been prevented had the air mat been sufficiently inflated,” she said.

“The trampoline operator owed a duty to provide and maintain safe equipment for patrons to use, and it failed in doing so.”

Ms Van Heugten said the man ended up having multiple surgical procedures, including one which required insertion of a metal rod into this leg.

“This meant he couldn’t weight bear for many weeks.

“The injuries caused significant disruption to his ability to work, undertake parental and home duties.”

Originally published as Shock number of paramedic call-outs to indoor trampoline centres in Victoria revealed