How to Reduce Static Shock on Trampoline

Many people have experienced static shock when jumping on a trampoline. You’re with a friend and you both touch and feel a shock or see a spark. The shock after jumping on a trampoline is when an electrical charge is built up in the person, changing them from being neutral to being negatively or positively charged. Once charged, then touching something that is conducive to electricity, a static shock occurs. The cause is usually dry air and the materials that rub against each other.

It is important to reduce the effects of static electricity because not only can the shock be slightly painful, it can be a nuisance and cause serious injury. The material of the trampoline surface is usually the culprit, if the surface is made of nylon, this a good conductor for electricity. Going bare foot on the trampoline and wearing cotton clothes will reduce the shock, but won’t eliminate it altogether. If you prefer not to go barefoot on your trampoline, then you need to experiment with which soles of the shoes reduce the shock. Synthetic soles are usually the worst sole to wear to reduce static shock, as a matter of fact, synthetic soles are a great conductor of electricity. Dry skin and wintertime make for a great combination as a conductor of electricity, so keeping the skin moisturized and drinking plenty of water will help reduce static shock too.

Another way to reduce static shock on trampolines is to ground yourself with a metal object, like a car key. You can touch other objects first with the key causing the spark (shock) to fly from the key instead of your finger. Many people have purchased ‘Discharge straps’, but these can be cumbersome for jumping purposes. Installing a misting system near the trampoline will reduce the dryness of the air around the trampoline and reduce the occurrence of static electricity.

Experiment with the above suggestions to find out which ones reduce the static shock the best. You may find none work or they all work.