Sport safety for kids
The return to school heralds a return to school sports such as soccer, football, cross-country and volleyball – and Jon Divine, MD, director of Sports Medicine at Cincinnati Children’s Hospital Medical Center, says it’s vital for children to be in shape even before showing up for the first day of practice or tryouts to reduce the risk of injury.
Acclimatizing to hot weather workouts 10 days to two weeks before official practice begins can prevent heat injuries. Children should also drinking plenty of fluids, take frequent breaks, wear light clothing and limit their exposure to the sun in the hot part of the day. Dr Divine also says safety equipment can reduce children’s chances of being one of the 4.4 million between the ages of 5 to 18 who are treated in hospital ERs each year. He recommends the following gear for youth sports…
- Mouth guards cost as little as $1 each, but protect the mouth, teeth, cheeks and tongue. They cushion blows that cause lost or broken teeth, concussions or jaw fractures. There are several different types, differing in cost, fit and comfort. Whatever the type you choose, the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP)recommends them for all contact and collision sports.
- Face guards and face protectors (polycarbonate lenses) prevent tens of thousands of injuries each year in football, hockey and other contact or collisions sports. Many leagues/teams require a physician’s note to allow wearing a facemask lens.
- Shin guards are worn by soccer players to prevent shin contusions. Parents need to make sure shin guards fit well. Rapidly growing young athletes may need to have their shin guards replaced annually
Preventing head injury
Helmets are another form of safety equipment that should be worn in sports like football, baseball or softball to prevent severe injuries like concussions. A concussion, or mild to moderate brain injury, is caused by a blow or jolt to the head. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the most common brain injury in sports is a concussion.
In fact, approximately 300,000 sports-related concussions occur in the US each year. Some concussions are unavoidable according to Dr Divine, who also directs the concussion clinic at Cincinnati Children’s. “If a young athlete comes off the field after a blow to the head in any sport feeling dizzy, faint or have a lapse in memory, it’s vital that they tell their coach or a team trainer,” he advises. “Equally as important, coaches, trainers and parents need to be observant of head injury symptoms because athletes may not report them. But of utmost importance, athletes younger than 18 who have any post-blow-to-the-head symptoms affecting their thought process should not return to the same practice, game or contest and be evaluated by a physician prior to return to play.”
Following these important safety guidelines and reviewing them every year with your children will prevent injury in every sport during the school year.