zip lines

[Anonymous]

I'd like to set up a zip line in my backyard, but don't want to attach it to trees. Does anyone know anything about home zip lines that aren't attached to trees? Thanks

[Anonymous]

DO NOT DO IT!!!!!
I know of a horrible accident last summer when someone fell off a zip line at the highest point in someone's back yard. The child was rushed to children and spent months recovering. The child is OK. It is a very dangerous toy!

[Anonymous]

Another vote for don't do it - A neighbor just added one in our neighborhood. Another child was injuried playing on it.

[Anonymous]

oh so let's ban all the pools and monkey bars in the world...

[Anonymous]

Seriously I am the 20:47 poster if you knew the extent of the injuries and how badly the child got hurt the 00.33 poster would not be so snarky and flippant.

[Anonymous]

People using zip lines in adventure parks are always double roped, so that if they let go, the safety line keeps them from tumbling down to the ground.
Make sure nothing sharp is on the ground below the zip and beyond.
Always instruct "zippers" carefully before using it - the main danger is putting your hands on the moving parts of the zip above your head.

[Anonymous]

How are are these zip lines? We had one as a kid and my friends and I loved it. The bar that we sat on was about 4 feet from the ground (so no higher than parts of a swing set).

[Anonymous]

I love teh ad for zip line equipment next to this post... seems appropriate. My 4 year daughter has already had stitches twice from falling of monkeying around and if we had the room for a zipline that could go into the pool I'd be installing it today, but she and I will just have to be stuck jumping off the roof into the pool.

[Anonymous]

http://www.ziplinegear.com/

I've been looking in to ziplines, and this site seems to have a good amount of info, more expensive that the hearthsong catalogue kit, but seems to be better quality

All the ziplines that I've seen go between 2 trees.

To the PP that are aware of injuries, was the zipline relatively close to the ground, the 4 foot distance another PP referred to.? I'm uncertain about safety and think that a 50 foot zipline about 6 to 10 feet high would be okay????

[Anonymous]

I'm the OP. I am envisioning something MUCH lower to the ground than some of the PP presumably are envisioning. My son's schools have always had zip lines as part of their equipment - they are part of the playground equipment not between trees. They are at most about 4 feet off the ground and are only about 10 feet long. I was hoping to find a home zip line of this sort. I already have a swing hanging from a tree and did not want to stress my trees any more than that.

[Anonymous]

OP, my child recently suffered a brain injury that might permanently disable her after falling from a height of less than 3 feet (not on a zip line). Honestly, it isn't worth it. Freak accidents happen, and low height is no guarantee that worrisome injury won't occur.

[Anonymous]

Pp, I am so sorry to hear about your daughter! Many prayers and positive thoughts for you and your family.

[Anonymous]

Pp here, I mistyped meant child, not daughter.

[Anonymous]

22:59, I am so sorry. It is totally true that freak accidents happen - my son broke his arm (not a devastating injury by any means, but shocking to all of us) falling less than 2 feet. And not even really falling, just landing wrong.

I know the playground zip lines the OP is referring to and those seem fairly safe. Still, they are usually on metal structures, so I wouldn't know how to install one at home. My instinct would be to say don't put one at home, just take your child to a playground, the same way I'd advise someone not to get a home trampoline but to sign up for gymnastics classes.