SUNDAY, Sept. 14 (HealthDay News) -- Children who play school
sports need to wear proper safety gear to reduce their risk of
injuries, emphasizes the director of sports medicine at Cincinnati
Children's Hospital Medical Center.
Dr. Jon Divine recommends the following equipment for young
athletes:
- Mouth guards protect the mouth, teeth, cheeks and tongue by
cushioning blows that cause lost or broken teeth, concussions or
jaw fractures. Mouth guards should be worn for all contact and
collision sports.
- Face guards and face protectors (polycarbonate lenses) prevent
tens of thousands of injuries each year in contact/collision sports
such as hockey and football.
- Shin guards protect soccer players from shin contusions.
Parents need to make sure their children's shin guards fit well.
Rapidly growing children may require new shin guards each
year.
- Helmets should be worn in sports such as football, baseball or
softball to prevent concussion and other serious head
injuries.
Concussion is the most common type of sports-related brain
injury, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and
Prevention. About 300,000 sports-related concussions occur each
year in the United States.
"If a young athlete comes off the field after a blow to the head in any sport feeling dizzy, faint or has a lapse in memory, it's vital that they tell their coach or a team trainer. Equally as important, coaches, trainers and parents need to be observant of head injury symptoms, because athletes may not report them," Divine said in a Cincinnati Children's news release.
"But of utmost importance, athletes younger than 18 who have any post-blow-to-the-head symptoms affecting their thought process should not return to the same practice, game or contest and be evaluated be a physician prior to return to play," said Divine, who directs the concussion clinic at Cincinnati Children's.
More information
The Nemours Foundation offers children advice on how to
prevent sports injuries.
