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F A M I L Y L I F E
SHUTTERSTOCK
W
ith concussions and other kids' sports
injuries in the news these days,
sometimes it may seem easier to just
keep your child safely at home on the
couch next to you.
But there are many precautions you can take to help
ensure that your son or daughter doesn't end up in the
ER, say experts. "A lot of injuries can be prevented with
just some common sense," says Dr. Matthew Bridgman,
a clinical neuropsychologist with Penn Highlands
Healthcare, DuBois, Pa.
1. Buy proper equipment and check it periodically.
Concussions most commonly occur from bicycling,
football, basketball and soccer, with football and girls'
soccer scoring the highest number of incidents last
year, according to the Centers for Disease Control and
Prevention. If your child participates in one of those
sports, it's especially important to find a helmet that fits
correctly, says Dr. Bridgman.
"If there is some new technology aspect to the helmet,
like it is padded with air, make sure it is checked peri-
odically to make sure it's filled and functioning properly,"
he says. And all helmets should be inspected routinely
to make sure they still fit throughout the season.
New, more effective helmets and mouthguards are
always in the news, but beware the hype, cautions
Dr. Melissa Knudson, who specializes in internal
medicine and pediatrics at Riverview Medical Center,
Wisconsin Rapids, Wis. "Research a lot before talking
to coaches and trainers, because a lot of these new
products don't seem to be making a difference," she
says. "So often there is nothing that we're missing by
not buying the higher-end items."
WAYS
4
to reduce your
child's risk of
sports injuries
by Stephanie Thompson
(continued on page 24)