The Bungee Trampoline - How Does It Work?

The bungee trampoline isn't really a trampoline at all. Yes you get the same bouncing sensation of a trampoline, but combine that with the rush you get from bungee jumping and you'll get a pretty good idea how this works. When you step into the jumping area, you are strapped into a safety harness. Bungee ropes are then attached to both sides of the harness. The electricity is turned on and whoosh...you are propelled into the air. The feeling is simply "wow", or instant nausea depending on your stomach.

Chances are you've seen these at your local amusement park or maybe at a camp or fair somewhere. Really you can set them up anywhere there is enough space with nothing overhead. If airborne aerobics are your thing, this is a blast. But the bungee trampoline is also used in training for gymnasts.

But with any trampoline, safety is an issue. Manufacturers must follow rigid regulations in construction. As a result, the frames are made from high quality steel and aluminum. Therefore they are basically safe for all ages (within reason) as long as you are somewhere between about 50 and 200 pounds. And while this is something that anyone can do, it only makes sense for you to have supervision from someone who is knowledgeable about both the equipment and the activity if you are going on a bungee trampoline for the first time.

In other words, approach with caution. There is the potential for some serious injuries if the equipment is misused. Minor injuries like sprains and fractures can and do happen. Major injuries like neck and head injuries resulting in paralysis and even death are no doubt possible. For this reason alone children should always be supervised on a bungee trampoline. And anyone jumping for the first time should have already had at least some instruction from a trained professional.

Bottom line is the bungee trampoline is great fun and also safe for beginners, if there has been at least a small amount of pretraining and supervision from an experienced pro. Remember you'll be shooting about 2 1/2 stories in the air. 25 feet is a long way to fall.

Also worth noting is that there are several types of bungee trampolines. You'll find them made for 1 person, and others are made for as many as 4 jumpers.

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