By: Don C. Keenan
In the summer heat, parents must make sure their kids are safe during sporting activities. Children's
bodies do not regulate heat as efficiently as adults' do. Also, children are not as coordinated as
adults and have a slower reaction time, making sports more dangerous for them.
Consider this statistic:
• Nearly 40% of all sports related injuries treated in emergency rooms involve children 5-14 years old
Here are some things you can do to keep your child safe:
1. MAKE SURE FIRST AID IS AVAILABLE
Don Keenan, founder of the Keenan's Kids Foundation , has published a book on child safety titled, 365 Ways to Keep Kids Safe , which is available at www.balloonpress.com or at www.amazon.com Proceeds benefit the Keenan's Kids Foundation.
Consider this statistic:
• Nearly 40% of all sports related injuries treated in emergency rooms involve children 5-14 years old
Here are some things you can do to keep your child safe:
1. MAKE SURE FIRST AID IS AVAILABLE
This must be true in practices as well as games. In the
summer, first aid must include cold water and ice. In the event of a heat stroke, there is
only a 20 minute window during which you can cool the affected person's body before permanent
damage begins to set in.
2. MAKE SURE THE COACH IS CPR CERTIFIEDSadly, a 2000 study conducted by the National SAFE KIDS C
ampaign found that 41% of children's coaches were not CPR certified.
3. MAKE SURE YOUR CHILD IS PROPERTY HYDRATED BEFORE, DURING, AND AFTER THE GAMEThe Center for Disease Control found that 300 people die each year from heat-related illnesses
and that dehydration can increase the risk of heat illness. The American College of Sports
Medicine found in 2004 that two thirds of children arrived at sports practice significantly
dehydrated. Dan Marino is the spokesman for "Defeat the Heat." His campaign against dehydration,
the hydration ABCs, says:
4. MAKE SURE THE COACH KNOWS THE CHILD'S HEALTH CONDITIONS AND ANY MEDICATIONS THE CHILD IS TAKINGA. Always drink before, during, and after activity,
B. Bring the right fluids (for any activity longer than an hour, sports drinks are best.
C. Consider fluids part of essential safety equipment for sports.
B. Bring the right fluids (for any activity longer than an hour, sports drinks are best.
C. Consider fluids part of essential safety equipment for sports.
This is important because some medications can drastically impact a child's hydration levels.
Don Keenan, founder of the Keenan's Kids Foundation , has published a book on child safety titled, 365 Ways to Keep Kids Safe , which is available at www.balloonpress.com or at www.amazon.com Proceeds benefit the Keenan's Kids Foundation.
By: Don C. Keenan
All safety experts agree: Helmets should be used in all contact sports and in any activity where
potential head injury can occur - bicycling, skate boarding, etc.
Here are a few statistics about childhood head injuries:
• Bicycles are associated with more childhood injuries than any other consumer product except the automobile. Nearly half (47%) of children hospitalized for bike-related injuries suffer from traumatic brain injury.
• Bicycle helmets reduce the risk of serious injury to the brain by 85%.
-Bicycle Helmet Safety Institute
• 82,000 people suffer brain injuries each year while playing sports
-Brain Injury Association of Alexandria, VA
• Shockingly, fewer than 41 percent of children ages 5 to 14 wear helmets while participating in wheeled activities, and more than a third (35%) wear them incorrectly.
-National SAFE KIDS Campaign
The good news is helmets can prevent this type of head trauma. Here are a few tips to make sure your child is safe:
1. ONLY PURCHASE HELMETS WITH A CERTIFICATION STICKER
Don Keenan, founder of the Keenan's Kids Foundation , has published a book on kid's safety titled, 365 Ways to Keep Kids Safe , which is available at www.balloonpress.com or from www.amazon.com . All proceeds benefit the Keenan's Kids Foundation.
Here are a few statistics about childhood head injuries:
• Bicycles are associated with more childhood injuries than any other consumer product except the automobile. Nearly half (47%) of children hospitalized for bike-related injuries suffer from traumatic brain injury.
• Bicycle helmets reduce the risk of serious injury to the brain by 85%.
-Bicycle Helmet Safety Institute
• 82,000 people suffer brain injuries each year while playing sports
-Brain Injury Association of Alexandria, VA
• Shockingly, fewer than 41 percent of children ages 5 to 14 wear helmets while participating in wheeled activities, and more than a third (35%) wear them incorrectly.
-National SAFE KIDS Campaign
The good news is helmets can prevent this type of head trauma. Here are a few tips to make sure your child is safe:
1. ONLY PURCHASE HELMETS WITH A CERTIFICATION STICKER
The helmet should have been inspected by at least one of the following agencies and carry a proof
sticker or label: Consumer Products Safety Commission, Snell, ASTM, or ANSI. These companies make
sure the helmets meet current safety standards.
2. REVIEW THE CONSUMER REPORTS WEBSITE BEFORE BUYINGHere you can discover safety malfunctions or recalls. You can also look for helmet ratings.
www.consumerreports.com
3. IF A CHILD SEVERLY KNOCKS HIS OR HER HEAD WITH THE HELMET ONCE, THROW IT AWAY.Do not use a damaged helmet - in fact, when notified of a severe head impact without injury, many manufacturers
will replace the helmet for free. It is good public relations for them, and they realize that the integrity of
the helmet has been compromised by the impact. Always check for cracks, splinters or unreasonably weak portions
of a helmet.
Don Keenan, founder of the Keenan's Kids Foundation , has published a book on kid's safety titled, 365 Ways to Keep Kids Safe , which is available at www.balloonpress.com or from www.amazon.com . All proceeds benefit the Keenan's Kids Foundation.