Protecting Your Kids on the Field this Season

Now that school is back in session, sports may once again become an activity that your child engages in on a weekly or daily basis, either competitively or just for fun. Sports like football, soccer, basketball, lacrosse, and other team (and individual) sports are a great way to develop sportsmanship, stay healthy, and have fun, but there are not without risks, too. If you have kids or teens who are active, here are some sports safety tips to talk about:

Wear the Right Safety Gear

Safety equipment, like helmets and football pads, are designed to reduce the risk of injury. Playing sports–or engaging in activities like skateboarding or riding a bike–is made more dangerous by not wearing the right safety gear.

Trust Your Body

Kids who are engaged in sports, especially at a competitive level, may feel a desire or a pressure to “push through” an injury, working through pain, discomfort, or a feeling that something may not be right. It’s important to learn to trust a body’s warning signs, with pain being the most common. However, in addition to pain, feeling dizzy, a rapid heart rate, extreme body temperature, or confusion can also be signs that something isn’t right, ranging from heat exertion to concussion.

Emphasize the Importance of Warming Up, Cooling Down, and Good Nutrition

Things like warming up for an activity before giving all-out effort, cooling down, and fueling the body right and staying hydrated can all help to prevent injuries. If you’re not sure what warm up and cool down exercises your kid should be doing, talk to your child’s coach. Make sure your child drinks plenty of liquids before, during, and after a sports activity, and is eating a macronutrient-balanced diet.

Learn the Signs of a Concussion

One of the greatest risks that child athletes face is the risk of a concussion. In fact, we now know that a concussion, and certainly multiple concussions, can have lifelong consequences, including chronic traumatic encephalopathy. A concussion can be sustained in just about any sport, individual sports included. As a parent, it is important to learn the signs of a concussion and what to do if you believe that your child has sustained a concussion. You should also make sure that your child’s coach knows these signs too in the event that a concussion happens, or concussion-like symptoms present themselves, during practice or a game you’re not present at.

Staying Safe While Playing Sports

Kids getting hurt through sports is common. Luckily, however, most injuries are minor and heal within a matter of days or weeks, never causing long-term complications. Sometimes, however, injuries are more serious, and can even be fatal for youth.

If your child has suffered a serious sports injury, our lawyers want to hear from you. We have experience bringing claims against liable parties for child injuries, and will competently represent you. Please contact our Nashville injury attorneys at the offices of Bednarz Law today to schedule your free consultation.