Page 6 - Langlade Hospital | Pathways Magazine | Winter 2013
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Pathways •
Game On!
How to help your kids stay injury-free
Whether it’s football,
basketball, soccer,
track or gymnastics,
any athletic activity
poses a risk for
injuries.
A Heads-Up About Concussion
➜
Ask whether coaches teach
and remind players of proper
techniques for the sport.
➜
Be sure coaches provide time for
warming up and cooling down. This
can help loosen muscles before and
after practice or competition.
➜
Outfit children in the appropriate
gear for the activity—such as
helmets, eye protection, mouth
guards, shoes and pads.
➜
Make sure coaches recognize the
dangers of playing and practicing in
hot weather. Players should always
have plenty of water to drink, take
regular breaks and be dressed
appropriately.
Kids should drink 8 ounces of
fluid every 20 minutes, plus more
after playing. Coaches should know
the signs of heat exhaustion and
heatstroke and be ready to call for
emergency help if needed.
Remember: Heat injuries can be
deadly if not treated immediately.
➜
Ask if there are rules against
unsafe practices, such as headfirst
sliding in baseball or softball,
spearing in football, and body
checking in ice hockey.
➜
Tell children to speak up if
they’ve been hurt. The coach needs
to know.
Sources: American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons;
American Academy of Pediatrics; National Institute of
Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases
Most kids get their fair share of
bumps and bruises. And while many
childhood injuries are minor, some
are serious, such as a concussion.
A concussion is a brain injury
caused by a bump, blow or jolt to the
head, which can disrupt the way the
brain normally works. Concussions
vary in severity of symptoms, and
some may lead to long-lasting
problems.
Signs and symptoms of a
concussion may be apparent right
away. But sometimes they may not
appear or be noticed for days or
weeks after the injury.
If you suspect that your child
has a concussion, seek medical
attention immediately. Symptoms
can include:
✓
Headache.
✓
Nausea or vomiting.
✓
Balance problems or dizziness.
✓
Trouble seeing.
✓
Sensitivity to light or noise.
✓
Confusion.
✓
Concentration or memory
problems.
Be sure to remind older kids—
especially if they play sports—never
to ignore a bump or blow to the head.
It’s important that they tell you or
their coach when they hit their head,
even if they feel OK. They need to get
checked out.
Source: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
IT MAKES
the sports page when a
famous athlete gets hurt. But sports
injuries aren’t just for pros.
Child athletes can, and do, get
hurt too. Whether it’s football,
basketball, soccer, track or
gymnastics, any athletic activity
poses a risk for injuries.
Just like adults, child athletes are
at risk for broken bones, strained
muscles, sprained ligaments and
heat injuries. And because
they’re still young and
growing, child athletes
are at risk for injuries not
experienced by adults.
For example, sports injuries
can damage a child’s growth
plates—tissues near the end of long
bones that injure more easily than
tendons or ligaments.
To help prevent injuries:
➜
Bring children to the doctor for a
preseason physical exam.
➜
Sign kids up for programs where
coaches know how to prevent and
recognize injuries.
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