It seems every time you turn on the news, there is another freakish accident involving youth playing sports. In many cases, these accidents go beyond sprains and broken bones; some of the injuries are life threatening.
There are some contact sports that you would expect injuries as a result. Football, hockey, lacrosse and other team sports always had a higher likelihood as you are in close contact with other team members and opponents in heated battle. According to the Youth Sports Safety Alliance, high school athletes suffer 2 million injuries, 200,000 doctor visits and 30,000 hospitalizations every year. If you factor in younger athletes and those beyond high school years, the numbers are staggering.
The first course of action is to be sure the athlete is fit to do the sport they choose. Schools demand a physical and medical clearance to participate for a reason. The parents should take this seriously and embrace it as a tool to keep their children sound.
Another obvious but often ignored weapon in the war against injuries is to be sure your family has the proper safety equipment to use and that it is in good condition and fitted properly.
It is important to educate parents, athletes, coaches, teachers and others about the signs and symptoms of sports injuries and conditions. Supervision is essential, but so are trained supervisors who know how to handle injuries and critical situations. Players need to understand the difference between pain and injury and that playing through the pain may have drastic consequences.
Helmets and padding may not be a fashion statement and insisting on parental supervision at the pool may be inconvenient to you and annoying to your child, but it may mean a happier and healthier life for your child.
Tips for Preventing Sports Injury
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