Getting kids involved in sports can provide many health and social benefits, but there are downsides as well. Children tend to get hurt more often than adults because their skeletal and muscular systems are still growing. Each year more than 3.5 million children ages 14 or younger sustain sports-related injuries that need medical care. Half of those injuries are overuse injuries, such as “Little League elbow.” Contact sports like football can also cause serious head, neck, and spinal injuries. About half of all high school football players suffer at least one concussion a year, according to a 2001 study published in the Journal of Child Neurology.

Injury Prevention

The good news is that 90 percent of youth sports accidents and deaths can be prevented. The National Youth Sports Safety Foundation suggests that parents ask the following questions, among others, to determine if local athletic programs are doing enough to keep kids safe. Visit www.nyssf.org for more helpful tips.

• Are coaches—both those involved in school sports and volunteers who run youth leagues—certified in CPR and sports first aid?
• Does the coach have a written emergency plan in case of an accident? Has it been rehearsed?
• Is there a first-aid box and ice at all practices and games?
• Cold muscles are more prone to injury, especially during growth spurts when children’s bones grow faster than their muscles. Do coaches have children do warm-up and cool-down exercises?
• Does the coach provide a conditioning program before signups so children know what is expected of them before they try out for a team?
• Are physical exams required before children can participate in sports?
• Are facilities routinely checked for safety?
• Is safety equipment available or required? If yes: Does it fit properly? Does it meet national standards? Is it in good condition?

Putting a Safe Spin on Things

Put kids on wheels of any kind and mishaps can occur. Bike riding causes more childhood injuries than any other activity. While most of these are scrapes and bruises, wrist and arm fractures also occur.

More than 46,200 emergency room visits by children ages 5 to 14 were caused by inline and roller skating accidents in 2004. In that same age group, skateboarding led to nearly 60,300 emergency room visits.

Helmets are the best way to protect children’s heads. Bike helmets decrease the risk of head injury by as much as 85 percent. According to a recent study, less than half of children ages 8 to 12 wear helmets on every bike ride; less than a third always wear a helmet while skateboarding, inline skating, or roller skating.

Parents and caregivers need to be good role models and wear helmets each time they bike, skate, or scooter. Children should also wear wrist guards and elbow and knee pads for roller sports.

Since most bike accidents result from rider error, make sure your child understands road rules and traffic laws. Don’t give your child a bike “to grow into”—it isn’t safe. Make sure your youngster’s feet can touch the ground when he or she is seated.

RICE to the Rescue

When an accident happens, remember “RICE”—rest, ice, compression, and elevation. Above all, use common sense: Never let a child continue playing if he or she is hurt. Ice therapy is useful for strains (stretched or torn muscles) and sprains (stretched or torn ligaments) as well as ankle, knee, and tendon injuries. It’s a good idea to have ice packs on hand. You can buy them at most grocery stores; they typically come in single-use pouches or reusable packs that should be chilled in the refrigerator (not the freezer).