A Guide to Keep Your Children Safe During Sports

The Children's Hospital Boston has recorded that nearly 30 million youths and adolescents participate in sports in America, and nearly 3 million of those youths and adolescents are victims of injury while participating. It is common knowledge that in sports accidents happen. However, through preventative measures parents, coaches, and children can greatly reduce the chance of injury. While preventing injuries is a job that can be done, preventing injuries for specific sports can lend itself to different tasks for each different game. Congruently, there are many ways you can weaken your child's chance at injury.

Firstly, make sure your child gets a physical exam. A Physical (as they are referred to) is the first step in preventing injury. Physical Exams check the potential of injury, as well as, searching for potential internal problems that can not be seen by the naked eye. Physical exams check for different key components that may be exacerbated by strenuous activity resulting in health problems. According to the Cleveland Clinic the first and most important part of a physical exam is the communication between doctor and patient. Make sure to tell your child to be vocal, and to honestly answer any questions the doctor asks. Communication is the strongest bond humans have, without that we can not connect, nor understand one another, the remainder of the physical relies on your child following instructions. There are breathing exercises, as well as, instances where the doctor checks your skin for a color that implies your body is getting good oxygen, while also checking the temperature of your skin for heart beat regularity. He or she will also take your pulse and check for abnormal heart sounds, but after that it's all over. It's a relatively painless measure that can help to foresee major problems.

Secondly, make sure your child wears all preventative gear for their respective sports. Some sports like football have mounds of gear you can wear to avoid injury; while in comparison, sports like basketball have virtually no gear at all. However, protective gear is extremely important. It is consequently extremely important the youth wears the gear correctly. Pads put on incorrectly, can sometimes result in worse injuries than playing with no gear at all. Along with wearing protective gear, if there comes a time when your child is hurt take them to the doctor, right away. If the injury is so that the child is able and wants to play; make sure your child has all the gear suitable to assist the injury the child has.

Third, teach the child to play by the rules of the game. The rules aren't only designed to make the game fair and safe. A wild game is more likely to produce injury than one in which the rules are followed. Lastly, it is equally important to listen to your child. If he or she doesn't feel up to playing, don't make them play. Children love to play if they say they aren't up to it they most likely can't play.

No game is 100 percent safe. Even a ping pong player can be hurt. Yet, paying attention to the rules, documenting and caring for physical heath concerns, as well as, wearing the proper gear can greatly reduce the risk of injury for your children and their friends.

http://my.clevelandclinic.org/heart/services/tests/exam.aspx

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