For many children in New York, youth sports is an integral part of growing up, and it’s well-proven that the physical and interpersonal benefits are numerous.
However, they are also rife with dangers. We’re not just referring to a scraped knee or a bruised arm.
Our Queens child injury lawyers are talking about serious fractures, internal organ injuries and brain damage – all of which can have long-lasting or even permanent consequences to your child’s future.
It’s far more common than you might think.
A new study published by Safe Kids Worldwide indicates that a child is hurt in an athletic activity every 25 seconds in this country.
In all, there are an estimated 1.35 million emergency room visits from children annually, prompted by severe sporting injuries. For children and teens, sports-related injuries account for 1 out of every 5 trips to the hospital.
Safe Kids’ President Kate Carr was quoted as saying that these figures are both surprising and disturbing. Coaches, parents and teammates have a responsibility to speak up and insist on a medical evaluation for injured players, particularly when there is evidence of a concussion or other possible brain injury.
The report, entitled “Game Changers,” analyzed data from the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission’s National Electronic Injury Surveillance System.
Across the board, concussions account for about 12 percent of all youth sports-related emergency room visits. That’s one child head injury every three minutes. Almost half of those were for children between the ages of 12 and 15.
Other findings included:
- Girls were eight times more likely to suffer from knee injuries than boys;
- Head injuries accounted for 14 percent of all sports-related trauma, while ankles accounted for 15 percent, fingers 12 percent, knees 9 percent and facial injuries 7 percent;
- Football accounts for the most injuries, followed by basketball, soccer, baseball, softball and wrestling;
- Ice hockey reported the highest percentage of head injuries – 31 percent of the total for the sport.
Some parents may be inclined to see these injuries as facts of life or rights of passage. The truth of the matter is, some can cause life-long health problems and the majority are preventable.
Concussions are especially concerning because they are a form of traumatic brain injury. The full effects might not be immediately apparent, but we do know that athletes between the ages of 13 and 16 take longer to recover following a concussion. Failing to recognize the symptoms or putting a player back in the game before he or she is medically cleared could worsen the damage, and may even prove fatal.
Actions that may help prevent serious or long-lasting damage include:
- Getting educated. Parents and coaches should visit www.safekids.org to learn more about how they can keep their child athletes safe.
- Teach athletes how to prevent injuries with smart hydration habits, effective warm-up exercises and good stretching techniques. Encourage athletes to maintain a healthy diet and get plenty of rest.
- Encourage child athletes to speak up if they are injured. Too often, players feel like they are going to let down their coach, teammates or parents if they ask to sit out. But speaking up could save their lives.
- Support the coach if he or she decides to pull your child from the game due to an injury. In the end, your child’s health is the only final score that matters.
The Law Offices of Nicholas Rose, PLLC offers free consultations. Call 1-877-313-7673.
Additional Resources:
Study: Kids hurt during sports once every 25 seconds, Aug. 6, 2013, By Ryan Jaslow, CBS News
More Blog Entries:
Child Baseball Injuries in Queens Often a Preventable Summer Risk, May 22, 2013, Queens Child Injury Lawyer Blog
