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- Keep your young athlete safe with these summer safety tips
Keep your young athlete safe with these summer safety tips
- By Dr. Carrie Waller
- Published 04/4/2010
- PCWJ Archive
- Unrated
Dr. Carrie Waller
Dr. Carrie Waller. Children's Health Services, 1826 W. Arlington Blvd., Greenville NC 252-329-7337
As the weather heats up, so does the frequency of sports-related injuries in children. How can you keep your child safe while encouraging him or her to develop an active lifestyle? With proper planning, appropriate safety gear, and careful supervision, most sports-related injuries can be avoided
First, keep your child fit during the off-season so that strength and stamina are in place for the first practices of the season. Though it is helpful to take a break from a sport to prevent overuse injuries, cross-training should continue as this will keep key muscle groups in play to protect vulnerable joints and growing bones. Children will also be less likely to suffer heat-related illness if they are more conditioned and at a healthy weight. Additional precautions for exercising in warm weather include maintaining proper hydration (drinking at least 8 oz of water every 20 minutes during the activity and more after), wearing breathable light-colored clothing, increasing rest time, and monitoring players frequently for symptoms of heat-related illness.
Safety gear is sport-specific but in general the more contact is involved, the more protective equipment is required. Mouth guards are frequently overlooked but are important for protection of teeth and may help prevent concussion. Sunscreen (SPF 30 or above is preferred) should be applied at least 30 minutes BEFORE sun exposure and should be reapplied frequently. Athletic supporters for males and sport-specific shoes should be included.
Everyone involved in the care of the child
during competition, practice, or at home is an important extension of the “team”. Appropriate scheduling and directing of practices helps prevent heat-related illness, overuse injuries, and dangerous or poorly executed sport-specific techniques. All medical providers should be knowledgeable about current “return to play” guidelines for common injuries from sprains to concussions. Parents should help children adhere to specific guidelines to prevent overuse injuries and are helpful in determining if a child is exceeding these due to participation on multiple teams. A parent’s praise or criticism is very important to their child. Praising a child for giving 100% to a sport rather than focusing solely on competition results will encourage self-esteem and independence. Pediatricians and other health-care providers can aid in prevention of injury by incorporating sport-specific history and examination into routine well-child care as well as sports physicals.
For more sport-specific information, please refer to the National Institute of Health’s “Childhood Sports Injuries and Their Prevention: A Guide for Parents with Ideas for Kids” from which many of the above points were adapted. (Go to the NIH home page; click on “Child and Teen” then “Child Safety”). Many pediatricians have excellent handouts available as well. For further information parents can also access www.aap.org and click on “Parenting Corner” then “Sports Participation”; they can then scroll down to “Sports Shorts, AAP Policy”. Have fun this summer and enjoy your kids while keeping them safe!
First, keep your child fit during the off-season so that strength and stamina are in place for the first practices of the season. Though it is helpful to take a break from a sport to prevent overuse injuries, cross-training should continue as this will keep key muscle groups in play to protect vulnerable joints and growing bones. Children will also be less likely to suffer heat-related illness if they are more conditioned and at a healthy weight. Additional precautions for exercising in warm weather include maintaining proper hydration (drinking at least 8 oz of water every 20 minutes during the activity and more after), wearing breathable light-colored clothing, increasing rest time, and monitoring players frequently for symptoms of heat-related illness.
Safety gear is sport-specific but in general the more contact is involved, the more protective equipment is required. Mouth guards are frequently overlooked but are important for protection of teeth and may help prevent concussion. Sunscreen (SPF 30 or above is preferred) should be applied at least 30 minutes BEFORE sun exposure and should be reapplied frequently. Athletic supporters for males and sport-specific shoes should be included.
Everyone involved in the care of the child
For more sport-specific information, please refer to the National Institute of Health’s “Childhood Sports Injuries and Their Prevention: A Guide for Parents with Ideas for Kids” from which many of the above points were adapted. (Go to the NIH home page; click on “Child and Teen” then “Child Safety”). Many pediatricians have excellent handouts available as well. For further information parents can also access www.aap.org and click on “Parenting Corner” then “Sports Participation”; they can then scroll down to “Sports Shorts, AAP Policy”. Have fun this summer and enjoy your kids while keeping them safe!