April is National Youth Sport Safety Month!
Spring is here (we think!) and outdoor sports season starts soon. Help keep your young family members safe with some preparation tips:
- Protect your lid! Helmets need to fit properly and be replaced whenever they have physical signs of wear OR have been worn in a physical impact situation.
- Get checked! Before playing organized sports, make sure young athletes receive a pre-participation physical exam by a doctor. This can help rule out any potential medical conditions that may place kids at risk.
- Hydrate! Bring a water bottle to practice and games. Encourage children to stay well hydrated by drinking plenty of water before, during and after play.
- Stretch! Stretching before practice and games can make a big difference by releasing muscle tension and helping prevent sports-related injuries, such as muscle tears or sprains. Make sure there is time set aside before every practice and game for athletes to warm up properly.
- Take a break! An off-season is important, too. It’s recommended that kids get 10 consecutive weeks of rest from any one sport every year. Playing different sports throughout the year is okay!
- Get certified! Coaches should be certified in first aid and CPR, learn the signs and symptoms of a concussion and help avoid overuse injury by resting players during practices and games.
