Avoiding Sports Injuries This Fall

Summer has ended, vacations have come to a halt, the kids are back in school, and upwards of 30 million children and teens will be starting fall sports across the country. Unfortunately, while having their fun playing football, soccer and other fall sports, more than 3.5 million of those participants will suffer some form of personal injury.

Shockingly, according to John Hopkins Medicine, almost one-third of all injuries incurred by children are sports-related, with upwards of 775,000 children ending up in emergency rooms each year.

To help parents to protect their children and to keep the number of emergency room visits down this year, the American Academy of Pediatrics has released their "2017 Sports Injury Prevention Tip Sheet.”  The tip sheet stresses the common types of injuries suffered by young participants in organized sports, including sprains, strains, and fractures. Other common injuries include concussions, muscle tears, and dislocated limbs.

Many child injury situations have even required the assistance of a personal injury lawyer. To avoid these injuries, we suggest and encourage parents to take several steps, including:

1. Making sure children are allowed to take some time off from training for sports. This will allow the child's body to recover, reducing the likelihood of suffering sprains and strains.

1. Wearing the proper protective gear. In addition to wearing the gear, parents should make sure their child's gear fits securely and is in proper condition.

1. Stretching. Parents should make sure their children engage in stretching exercises to increase the flexibility and durability of muscles, further reducing the likelihood of sprains and strains.

1. Following the rules. Following regulations that forbid activities which increase the risk of injury, such as checking in hockey and headfirst sliding in baseball, should be strictly followed.

1. Stopping the game if you are in pain. Many injuries are caused or exacerbated when a player feels pain, but continues to play anyway. Make sure your child plays it safe and exits the game if he or she is in pain.

While following these suggestions will certainly reduce the likelihood of injury, no player's safety can be guaranteed. If you or someone you know suffers from a sports injury, please contact our firm at (844)-777-2529.

Alvin F. de Levie & Associates maintains offices throughout Pennsylvania, with locations in Philadelphia, State College, Clearfield, Bellefonte and Lock Haven, and we are willing to meet any clients throughout the Commonwealth.