Now that school’s out millions of kids across the nation are spending their summer days having fun on the soccer field, basketball court and in the swimming pool. While these activities are great ways to burn calories and stay in shape, they often lead to sports-related injuries such as bruises, scrapes and broken bones.
In fact, a new report shows that sports-related injuries accounted for 22 percent of hospital emergency department visits for children ages 5 to 17 in 2007. If you have an active young son, then you might not be surprised by the new findings. After all, according to the latest News and Numbers from the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality, boys had three times more visits to treat sports injuries than did girls (147 visits per 10,000 children vs. 50 visits per 10,000 children) in 2007.
In addition, the research also found that teens were five times more likely than children to be treated for sports injuries in emergency departments (154 visits per 10,000 15 to 17 year-olds vs. 30 visits per 10,000 5 to 9 year-olds).
Of the injuries sustained by children, not all were serious. According to the study, most consisted of bruises, sprains and strains, arm fractures, or cuts and scrapes to the head, neck or chest.
To avoid a hospital visit this summer, make sure your child is taking proper precautions while participating in his favorite sport:
Use Proper Equipment–It’s important for kids to use proper equipment and safety gear that is the correct size and fits well. Kids should be wearing helmets for baseball, softball, and bicycle riding. They also should wear helmets while they’re inline skating or riding scooters and skateboards. What’s more, depending on the sport, children should also be donning protective eyewear, proper athletic shoes, mouth guards, athletic cups and supporters, and padding.
Check Play Surfaces—Make sure your child’s playing fields are not full of holes and ruts that might cause him/her to fall or trip. Also, it’s safer to play high-impact sports, like basketball on more forgiving surfaces, such as wooden basketball courts, than surfaces like concrete.
Adult Supervision–Qualified adults, who know the rules of the game, and have training in first aid and CPR, should supervise team sports. Coaches should also explain and enforce all playing rules and require that safety equipment be used at all times.
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