Hot off the presses:
Safe Kids Worldwide released a new report in April 2012:
Coaching Our Kids to Fewer Injuries: A Report on Youth Sports Safety
Click on any of the links below to learn more about current sport's safety topics:
Traumatic Brain Injury (Concussions)
Overuse Injury
Heat-related Illness
Dental Injury
Skin Infections
Athletic Facility Improvement Projects
Millions of children participate in sports and recreational activities every year in the United States. However, there are also millions of sports-related injuries occurring and unfortunately, these numbers are on the rise. It is estimated that more than 3.5 million children under the age of 14 receive medical treatment for sports injuries annually.
The most common types of sports-related injuries in children are sprains, muscle strains, bone or growth plate injuries, and heat-related illness. Traumatic brain injuries (concussions) are also on the rise and it is estimated that 2 out of 5 traumatic brain injuries among children are associated with participation in sports.
Traumatic Brain Injury (Concussions)
A traumatic brain injury occurs when a bump, blow, or jolt to the head changes the way the brain normally works. This type of injury can occur during practices and games in any sport or recreational activity. It is estimated that 90% of traumatic brain injuries occur without the loss of consciousness. Children and teens are more likely to sustain a concussion and take longer to heal than adults. Direct medical costs and costs such as lost productivity due to traumatic brain injury totaled an estimated $60 billion in the United States in 2000.
Symptoms of a traumatic brain injury include:
- Headache
- Nausea or vomiting
- Balance problems or dizziness
- Double or blurry vision
- Bothered by light or noise
- Feeling sluggish or groggy
- Difficulty paying attention
- Memory problems or confusion
If a traumatic brain injury is suspected, the following steps should be taken:
- Notify the coach or athletic trainer.
- Get a medical checkup from a doctor or healthcare professional.
- Allow adequate time to heal.
For more information about traumatic brain injury prevention and treatment, take the free online Heads Up training from the Center for Disease Control. This training teaches coaches how to recognize, respond to, and prevent concussions in sports. Additional materials including the following fact sheets are also available.
- Concussion Fact Sheet for Athletes
- Concussion Fact Sheet for Coaches
- Concussion Fact Sheet for Parents
Overuse Injury
An overuse injury occurs when there is repetitive strain to a tendon, bone, or joint. As more children are playing sports year round, overuse injuries are becoming more common. Experts estimate that up to 50% of sports-related injuries seen in children are related to overuse. Common overuse injuries include tennis elbow, swimmer’s shoulder, and stress fractures.
The key to preventing overuse injuries is time off. It is recommended that athletes have at least two to three months off per year. In addition to proper rest and recovery time, there are also specific exercises that can reduce the risk of injury. To view videos of these exercises and learn more prevention tips, please visit Nationwide Children's Hospital.
Heat-related Illness
Heat-related illness is the leading cause of preventable death among high school athletes. These heat stroke deaths occur mainly during the summer months and at the beginning of conditioning for fall sports. Heat-related illness occurs when there is an excessive loss of fluids from the body often initially resulting in dehydration.
For more information about keeping athletes properly hydrated, please see the Hydration Recommendations from the Ohio High School Athletic Association.
Dental Injury
Want an inexpensive way to make your athlete safer on the field? Pop in a mouthguard! More than 2 million teeth are knocked out every year in sports-related injuries. Mouthguards prevent injury to the mouth, teeth, lips, cheek and tongue and reduces the risk for concussions. According to the American Dental Association, wearing a mouthguard is the most effective way to reduce the incidence and severity of sports-related dental injuries.
Through the sports injury prevention program at the Union County Health Department, all Union County youth athletic teams are eligible to receive a Mouthguard Team Kit from the Union County Health Department. The kits are free and available while supplies last. Each team kit will include mouthguards, athlete pledge cards, parent brochures, and dental emergency cards for coaches.
Educational materials from the team kits can also be downloaded and printed:
To receive a kit for your team, please complete and submit the following request form:
Skin Infections
Skin infections among athletes are a serious concern for many sports. These infections are passed through direct skin-to-skin contact or by the sharing of sports equipment, clothes, and towels. If left untreated, skin infections can cause lost playing time, reoccuring wounds or rashes, permanent scarring, and in some rare cases they can be life-threatening.
The simplest ways to prevent these infections include:
- Frequently washing hands with soap and water
- Showering immediately after practices and games
- Covering all open cuts and wounds with waterproof bandages
- Washing clothes and towels immediately after practices and games
- Establishing and implementing policies and procedures for cleaning and disinfecting shared sports equipment
To learn more about the prevention and treatment of skin infections among athletes, visit the Minnesota Department of Health. Additional materials including the following fact sheets are also available.
- Skin Infections Fact Sheet for Athletes and Families
- Skin Infections Fact Sheet for Coaches and Team Leaders
Athletic Facility Improvement Projects
Beginning in 2010, the Union County Health Department has awarded grant funds to Union County organizations serving young athletes. These grant funds are used to make physical improvements to local athletic facilities in order to reduce the risk of sports-related injury.
2012 Athletic Facility Improvement Projects
For the third straight year, the Injury Prevention Program at the Union County Health Department is partnering with local recreational organizations, youth leagues, and schools to improve the safety of young athletes through the Athletic Facility Improvement Projects. All Union County athletic organizations were eligible to apply for grant funds to make repairs and improvements to their athletic facilities to reduce the risk of injury.
Nine organizations submitted applications in 2012.
We will be funding three projects in 2012. These projects include:
- St. Paul Lutheran School will be receiving $1500 to purchase tumbling mats and make improvements in their gymnasium.
- The North Union Little League will be receiving $1200 to build a safety fence at Monroe Field in Richwood.
- The Central Ohio Youth Center will be receiving $1500 to make improvements and repairs to their basketball court.
All improvements will be made during the summer and early fall of 2012. The updated facilities will be completed by November 2012.
This is an annual project. The next application period will open in January 2013 and materials will be available through the UCHD website.
2011 Athletic Facility Improvement Projects
Fairbanks Summer Ball Association
The Fairbanks Summer Ball Association who was also funded for field improvements in 2010, once again demonstrated their strong commitment to the safety of their athletes. Through the hard work of their association, the FSBA was able to leverage an additional $8400 in funds, donations, and in-kind support to complete their project. As a result of their time and effort, the FSBA was able to resurface and sod the remaining field from the 2010 project and install break away safety bases on two of their three fields.
Broadway Baseball Association
The Broadway Baseball Association received grant funds to make improvements and repairs to two baseball fields in Broadway. The Broadway Baseball Association serves over 170 young athletes.
St. John's Lutheran School
St. John's Lutheran School used funds to purchase tumbling mats for their gymnasium. These mats are being used to ensure the safety of students in physical education classes and those participating in the cheerleading program.
2010 Athletic Facility Improvement Projects
Fairbanks Summer Ball Association
The Fairbanks Summer Ball Association received funds to improve baseball/softball fields in Milford Center. With these funds and generous donations, the FSBA was able to repair and construct new fencing, level and reseed the outfields, and resurface the infield areas.
North Union Local School District
The North Union Local School District was provided grant funds to repair and improve a community basketball court in Richwood. This grant along with other funds allowed the school district to repair broken fence and concrete, repaint the courts, repair backboards, and install new breakaway hoops.
Heart of Ohio Girls Softball Assocation
The Heart of Ohio Girls Softball Assocation used funds to purchase safety bases for Marysville softball fields.
Union County Family YMCA
The Union County Family YMCA used the athletic facility improvement funds to purchase pads and safety equipment to be used for youth volleyball leagues and camps.
